Tough luck: “Anybody’s child can contest in Pekan, not necessarily Najib’s”
MORE clarity has emerged following yesterday’s (Aug 11) newsbreak by Malay news portal Utusan Malaysia that former premier and Pekan MP Datuk Seri Najib Razak is ‘grooming’ his eldest son Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib to succeed him as a potential candidate in the event that he is ineligible to contest in the parliamentary constituency following an unfavourable outcome in his Federal Court appeal over his SRC International Sdn Bhd case conviction.
Citing Pahang UMNO information chief Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, Malaysiakini reported that the former was unaware of Nizar’s candidacy speculation that has gone viral.
“I didn’t hear about it. Pahang UMNO also has yet to discuss GE15 (15th General Election) candidates,” Syed Ibrahim who is also the Pahang state Islamic Affairs and Education Committee chairman told the news portal.
“Anyone’s child can be proposed as a GE15 candidate, not just Najib’s. Even my child or a child of someone from Perlis can be proposed. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Elaborating further, Syed Ibrahim went on to assure that UMNO will have no problem in terms of its line-up of candidates for the 15th general election, including replacing Najib in Pekan, if needed.
“We have many candidates who can stand in Pekan, not just Najib,” he asserted. “Pahang UMNO has no issues in terms of candidates. Pahang UMNO is also ready for all possibilities.”
Datuk Seri Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad
Nizar’s name was brandished as a likely candidate for Pekan given Najib is staring at uncertainties with his newly appointed legal team ‘threatening to withdraw’ from representing him in view of inadequate preparedness for his appeal.
This opens up the likelihood of the Federal Court upholding his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 mil fine over the seven charges levelled at him in the SRC International case.
Nizar, 44, the eldest of five siblings, is Najib’s son with his first wife Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar.
Interestingly, the Utusan Malaysia report also went on to mention that it has yet to be decided which of the four state seats – Pulau Manis, Peramu Jaya, Bebar and Chini – that the UMNO Pekan Division Youth chief since 2018 would be contesting. All the four seats are held by Barisan Nasional.
A consultant and accountant, Nizar is married to Nur Sharmila Shaheen in 2004 and is blessed with five children
If indeed Nizar does succeed Najib, then he stands a chance to be the third-generation Pekan MP in the Razak family tree (not discounting the possibility of a third-generation prime minister in the future).
The eldest of six siblings, Najib himself was 23 years old when he began his political career after the death of his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein on Jan 14, 1976.
In GE14, Najib retained the Pekan seat with a 24,859 majority. He secured 43,854 votes in a four-cornered contest in the Pekan parliamentary seat. – Aug 12, 2022
Nizar’s name was brandished as a likely candidate for Pekan given Najib is staring at uncertainties with his newly appointed legal team ‘threatening to withdraw’ from representing him in view of inadequate preparedness for his appeal.
This opens up the likelihood of the Federal Court upholding his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 mil fine over the seven charges levelled at him in the SRC International case.
Nizar, 44, the eldest of five siblings, is Najib’s son with his first wife Tengku Puteri Zainah Tengku Eskandar.
Interestingly, the Utusan Malaysia report also went on to mention that it has yet to be decided which of the four state seats – Pulau Manis, Peramu Jaya, Bebar and Chini – that the UMNO Pekan Division Youth chief since 2018 would be contesting. All the four seats are held by Barisan Nasional.
A consultant and accountant, Nizar is married to Nur Sharmila Shaheen in 2004 and is blessed with five children
If indeed Nizar does succeed Najib, then he stands a chance to be the third-generation Pekan MP in the Razak family tree (not discounting the possibility of a third-generation prime minister in the future).
The eldest of six siblings, Najib himself was 23 years old when he began his political career after the death of his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein on Jan 14, 1976.
In GE14, Najib retained the Pekan seat with a 24,859 majority. He secured 43,854 votes in a four-cornered contest in the Pekan parliamentary seat. – Aug 12, 2022
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kt comments:
In Malaysia politics seems to be a family business, probably because members of the same family are likely to be interested in politics.
We have 'Tuk and Boi-Boi and 'nephew' Ass-binte, then there's 'Tuk's best buddy KHAT and his son and senator-daughter. And my icon (the late) Karpal's many sons and a daughter are also participating.
All previous "Dynastic" political successions in Malaysia more or less worked if Senior left in good standing, and could still command a strong following.
ReplyDeleteIt is highly questionable whether Najib will be able to exit in Good Standing.
Of course, Najib will still have his Myrmidons who will retain their loyalty come He'll or High Water.
But the wider population in Pekan won't necessarily continue to support him, and extend to Junior, if he is ultimately found Gulty by the Apex Court.