Najib's supporters march to Istana Negara urging for royal pardon

KUALA LUMPUR: Supporters of Datuk Seri Najib Razak gathered in the hundreds outside the Istana Negara on Wednesday (Aug 24) afternoon, as they sought royal intervention into the former prime minister's corruption conviction.

Representatives of the group who called themselves "Pertubuhan Jalinan Perpaduan Negara Malaysia" submitted a memorandum to palace officials.

"We have submitted a 'referendum' to Istana Negara with two things that we are demanding.

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"We want a Royal Pardon to be given to Najib and we want Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to meet the King and present the evidence that there was a conflict of interest in regards to Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali," said the group's leader Syed Muhammad Imran Syed Abdul Aziz to reporters.

Syed Muhammad Imran and a few other members of the group were allowed to enter the Palace compound to submit the memorandum.

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Other protesters gathered outside the Palace gates, causing slight congestion in the area, while a large police presence stood by and kept a close watch.

The group dispersed after the press conference was over.

Najib has been ordered to serve his 12-year jail sentence following the Federal Court’s decision to uphold his SRC International Sdn Bhd conviction on Tuesday (Aug 23).

The conviction and sentence was imposed on Najib in the High Court on July 28, 2020 by Mohd Nazlan.

During Najib’s recent trial in the Federal Court, his bid to adduce further evidence was rejected by the five-member bench led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.

It ruled that Mohd Nazlan’s previous employment with Maybank does not show a conflict of interest or bias in his judgement against Najib.