Tok Mat: Remarks in interview should be seen in totality, not taken out of context

SEREMBAN: Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan says his recent interview with Hong Kong-based Asia Times should be viewed in totality so that his comments were not taken out of context.

The Umno deputy president said if his comments were interpreted on a piecemeal basis, it could give an inaccurate picture.

"It is very important for me to emphasise that the overall context of the interview is my assertion that every accused person is entitled to a fair trial without any conflict of interest.

"I also said that a pardon under Malaysian law will only be given after an accused has started serving his sentence," he said in a statement Friday (July 8).

Mohamad said if his comments are viewed on a piecemeal basis, then it could paint a negative picture of Datuk Seri Najib Razak and of himself.

"It can also be used as propaganda material by Umno's political enemies," he said, adding that he no longer intended to dwell on the matter as his focus was to prepare the party for the coming general election.

On Tuesday (July 5), Mohamad had denied that he had during the interview said that Najib should go to jail for his role in the 1MDB scandal.

He said that he had been misquoted in the report which was headlined "Umno's No 2 thinks Najib should go to jail".

Mohamad said all he had said was that Najib should get a fair trial but in the event he was convicted, he would have to serve the sentence.

He said Najib can also ask to be pardoned but he would have to go through the process like anyone else.

However, Asia Times journalist Nick Kochan later said he stood by his report.

Kochan also released a three-part recording of the interview, and in a tweet said that he and co-author Nile Bowie disputed Mohamad's claim that his comments were taken out of context.

In July 2020, Najib was found guilty of seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the SRC International trial.

He was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210mil.

The Court of Appeal also upheld the High Court's verdict on Dec 8, 2021.

Last month, Najib filed an application at the Federal Court to nullify the trial involving SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Najib is also facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3bil in 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.