A convincing Barisan Nasional (BN) victory in the Johor state election would demonstrate continued public support for former prime minister Najib Razak and reflect hopes that he will receive a royal pardon, according to his son, Nazifuddin.
The Langkawi Umno chief made the remarks when asked about claims that Najib could be freed if BN secures a strong electoral mandate in Johor.
He said a major BN victory would send a clear message that voters in Johor support the coalition and its leadership, while also showing that many people still value ‘Bossku’ and hope to see him reunited with the rakyat.
Nazifuddin added that anyone intending to resign over such a possibility should do so immediately rather than wait until after BN’s victory.
State polls do not determine Najib’s release
At the same time, Nazifuddin acknowledged that winning the state election would not automatically result in Najib’s release.
He stressed that the Johor election was not about choosing a prime minister, but about securing a strong mandate for BN.
He said there was nothing wrong if Najib were to receive a royal pardon and be released, adding that the matter falls under the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Cabinet resignation remarks
His comments came after DAP’s housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said on Tuesday that he would be the first to resign from the Cabinet if Najib were released from prison.
Nga also said he would not rule out the possibility of DAP withdrawing from the federal coalition under such circumstances.
Najib serving prison sentence
Najib, 72, is currently serving a six-year prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
His original 12-year jail term was reduced by half by the Pardons Board in February 2024, while his RM210 million fine was lowered to RM50 million. His sentence is scheduled to end on Aug 23, 2028.
Separately, Najib was convicted by the High Court on charges of abuse of power and money laundering linked to 1MDB and was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. He has appealed against the conviction and sentence.
