Najib was put up as Pekan candidate before he was sentenced, says Umno

KUANTAN: The candidacy of Datuk Seri Najib Razak for the Pekan parliamentary seat in the upcoming 15th general election (GE15) was handed over to the party on Aug 19, said Pekan Umno division deputy chief Datuk Seri Zamri Ramly.

He said Najib's name was sent with four other names to the Pahang Umno liaison committee last August and not sent recently as claimed.

"The five names including Najib were forwarded on Aug 19 after the committee requested the names and the names list were probably sent to the party leadership for vetting process.

"Then on Aug 23, Najib was instructed to serve his 12-year jail sentence," he said.

Zamri said the submission of Najib's name should not be an issue as it has been sent before the court made its decision.

On Thursday (Oct 13) Zamri confirmed that Najib's name was among the five names that were forwarded as a suggestion to contest in Pekan for GE15.

He also said there were no plans to name Najib's children Datuk Nizar Najib or Nooryana Najwa to contest at their father's parliamentary seat.

Najib, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence, has been Pekan MP since 1976, except for the 1982-86 term when he was mentri besar of Pahang.

Pekan has been held by Najib’s family since 1959, first with Najib’s father, second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, and then by Najib.

In the last general election Najib defended the Pekan parliamentary seat after winning a big majority with 24,859 votes defeating three more candidates.

During Najib's term as Pahang mentri besar, the seat was held by Barisan's Mohamed Amin Daud.

Najib, whose conviction in the RM42mil SRC International case was upheld by the Federal Court on Aug 23, has filed for a review to overturn the decision and is also seeking a Royal pardon.