PETALING JAYA: An Opposition MP expressed a show of sympathy for imprisoned Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was described as a "warrior" who fought his case till the very end.
"I am not a sadist who loudly cheers because Najib was finally taken to Kajang prison.
"I had felt sad previously when Anwar Ibrahim was taken to Sungai Buloh prison several years ago.
"As such, I sympathise with Najib's supporters, especially those who had travelled by bus from Pekan, Pahang.
"Like Anwar, he too has supporters," the PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 24).
He said that Najib has shown the character of a warrior when defending himself in court.
"Yes, Najib may have fallen but he put up a stiff fight as best as he could in court.
"He did not surrender easily. This is a character of a warrior," he said, adding that Najib, who is the eldest son of former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, was instrumental in abolishing the Internal Security Act. (ISA).
On Tuesday (Aug 23), Najib became the first former prime minister in the country's history to be sent to prison after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal.
On July 28, 2020, the Kuala Lumpur High Court sentenced Najib to 12 years in jail and a total fine of RM210mil after being found guilty of seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of position in the RM42mil SRC International case.
Hassan stressed that he felt elated and happy at the court's decision on Tuesday (Aug 23) not because of Najib's imprisonment but rather that the rule of law was upheld by the judiciary.
"I am happy not because Najib's appeal was rejected.
"I am happy because the judicial institution has regained its pride, freedom and has been upheld," he added.
He said that the court's verdict is one of the best gifts to the rakyat in conjunction with the coming National Day celebrations this Aug 31.
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