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KUALA LUMPUR: The majority of Malaysians believe that Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not receive a royal pardon over his corruption conviction, a survey found.
In a survey commissioned by civil society organisation, Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama), revealed that 57.8% of the 1,210 respondents across 222 parliamentary constituencies believed that the former prime minister should not be pardoned for various reasons.
Thomas Fann, who is the founding member of Projek Sama said 34.3% of respondents found that the former premier had betrayed the people and caused significant losses.
“Another 15.4% of the respondents mentioned pending court cases by Najib and another 8.1% revealed his refusal to admit guilt,” he said when presenting the report at Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here on Friday (May 9).
The report, titled "No Dua Darjat: Public Perception on Proportionality of Criminal Sentences, Home Detention and Najib Razak’s Pardon Plea" was commissioned to Merdeka Centre to carry out a short rider survey involving Malaysians across ethnic, gender, generations, socio-economic, geographical and political backgrounds.
Meanwhile, 32.7% of the respondents supported Najib’s pardon plea on the grounds that he had contributed to the nation, the survey carried out from March 27 to April 17 found.
The survey also found that across ethnic backgrounds, the strongest backing for the former Umno president for a royal pardon is from the Indian community with 62.2% of respondents, followed by Muslim bumiputra at 50.5%.
It was also revealed that 95% of Chinese respondents rejected Najib’s pardon plea, followed by 51% of non-Muslim bumiputra respondents.
On political backing for his royal pardon bid, Najib also enjoyed the highest backing from Barisan Nasional supporters at 67.7%, followed by Perikatan Nasional supporters at 44.6% and 39.2% of GPS, GRS and Warisan supporters.
The survey also showed the highest objection to Najib’s pardon plea was from Pakatan Harapan supporters at 87.3%, followed by 57.1% of voters of other political coalitions or parties.
