Melaka Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Adly Zahari does not expect the controversy surrounding former prime minister Najib Razak’s house arrest arrangement and the payment of his RM50 million fine to cost the coalition votes in the Nov 14 state election.
Adly said the issue had attracted national attention but was unlikely to discourage PH supporters from turning out to vote.
“Even among PH supporters, their main concerns are issues involving governance, transparency and so on,” he told FMT.
He also said PH could not rely solely on votes from its own members and supporters to win the state election.
“We must win with the support of the people of Melaka,” he said.
Najib controversy becomes campaign talking point
The issue surrounding Najib became a talking point towards the end of the first week of campaigning, following Umno’s announcement on Nov 6 that it had paid the RM50 million fine imposed on the former prime minister in his SRC International case.
Najib was granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest, subject to payment of the RM50 million fine.
AGC seeks to defer house arrest arrangement
After the fine was settled, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) suggested deferring Najib’s house arrest pending a review of the conditional pardon and the related Order of Discharge issued by the High Court.
The AGC said the two issues involved “complex legal questions” with implications for the implementation of the royal pardon and the court order.
PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) are contesting separately in the Melaka state election, despite being partners in the federal unity government.
BN has instead entered into an electoral pact with the PAS-led Perikatan Nasional.
