Wanita BN Convention: I won’t flinch an inch, says Najib ahead of final SRC appeal

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak says he will not “flinch an inch” in Barisan Nasional’s fight in facing the 15th General Election, a day ahead of his final appeal against his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

His final appeal is set to be heard at the Apex Court on Monday (Aug 15).

“Tomorrow is important for me as it is the final appeal at the Federal Court. Although today I was supposed to be busy with my lawyers, I chose to be with Wanita,” said the former prime minister during his speech at the Wanita Barisan Nasional convention here Sunday (Aug 14).

“This is because I want Wanita to understand that as a leader, I am with Wanita in their struggle.

“No matter what they do, no matter the ‘cruelty’ inflicted upon me, my wife and my family, I will stand firm and not flinch an inch and fight alongside Wanita.

“We will ensure that Barisan Nasional will win in GE 15,” he said.

Also present was Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

On July 28, 2020, High Court judge Justice Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (now a Court of Appeal judge) convicted and sentenced Najib on seven charges involving criminal breach of trust (CBT), money laundering and abuse of position, involving SRC funds, totalling RM42mil.

He was sentenced to 12 years' jail and a fine of RM210mil.

The conviction and sentence were upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Najib's final appeal at the Federal Court will be heard from Aug 15-19 and Aug 23-26. The previous date of Aug 22 has been vacated by the court.

On the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) project, Najib said the Opposition is trying to play up the scandal just like 1Malaysia Development Bhd(1MDB) for the upcoming general election.

The former premier added that he has been using his Facebook page to rebut any allegations whenever there is an attempt by the Opposition to “incite”.

“I raised six questions but they did not answer,” he said, claiming that the Opposition’s intention was to blame Barisan.

“I admit that there are delays (to the LCS project). It is not easy to make an advanced combat ship. This is not a yacht or a cruise ship,” he said, adding that delays do happen in advanced countries as well.

None of the ships has been completed so far, although five should have been delivered by this month, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) revealed in Parliament.