Zareen Humairah Sejahan
Published: Nov 9, 2024 12:02 PM
COMMENT | The political landscape in Malaysia has faced an unyielding challenge in recent years: the downfall of Najib Abdul Razak and the aftermath within his political party, Umno.
Despite the solid evidence presented and a conviction upheld by the highest court in Malaysia, there remain voices within Umno which insist on Najib’s innocence.
This unwavering loyalty raises troubling questions, not only about the integrity of Umno’s leadership but also about the possibility of complicity within its ranks.
When a leader falls so spectacularly from grace, the political apparatus that once rallied around him must engage in deep introspection. But Umno’s refusal to recognise Najib’s guilt suggests a troubling detachment from both legal facts and public sentiment.
One must wonder, is Umno’s continued defence of Najib merely a sign of loyalty, or does it signal a deeper, more troubling reality of collusion and shared culpability?
The legal proceedings against the former prime minister laid bare a profound abuse of power. Convicted of being implicated in a scheme which saw billions siphoned from the nation’s coffers, Najib’s actions supported a web of political patronage and an extravagant lifestyle.
The convictions he received were not the result of circumstantial evidence but of a meticulous and thorough investigation that detailed a clear pattern of corruption, and yet Umno remains reluctant to sever ties with him.
The reluctance of Umno leaders to accept the court’s ruling raises questions about their own roles in the scandals that marred Najib’s tenure. If Umno leaders refuse to concede Najib’s guilt, one must ask whether they too have been implicated in the misdeeds.
Najib’s corruption
Indeed, Najib’s corruption was not an isolated phenomenon. For years, he was surrounded by a network of loyalists and supporters who, at the very least, most probably turned a blind eye to the excesses and abuses happening under his leadership.
If they continue to proclaim Najib’s innocence, it is not far-fetched to consider that they may have been direct beneficiaries of his schemes.
Moreover, Umno’s steadfast defence of Najib calls for a renewed examination by the MACC into the possible distribution of misappropriated funds. There is a genuine possibility that the money trail from Najib’s accounts did not end with him but rather flowed into the pockets of his political allies.
The MACC, therefore, has an obligation to dig deeper into the financial connections within Umno’s hierarchy, to uncover whether Najib’s corruption was part of a larger network of political patronage which benefited multiple individuals within the party.
Umno supporters must ask: why would leaders defend a convicted criminal unless they, too, have something to hide? This is no longer a matter of loyalty to a fallen leader; it is a question of accountability.
Umno has positioned itself as a party for the Malay people, claiming to champion integrity, nationalism, and justice. If Umno truly stood for the well-being of the nation, it would distance itself from Najib.
The unwillingness to do so reveals an uncomfortable truth: Umno may be less interested in justice and more focused on self-preservation.
Umno’s reluctance to accept Najib’s guilt further isolates it from the Malaysian public, who have grown weary of the corruption and cronyism that defined Umno’s administration.
Malaysians are demanding a higher standard of accountability from their leaders and Umno’s failure to respond to this demand risks its relevance in a rapidly changing political environment as it only fuels public suspicion.
Genuine reckoning
For Malaysia to move forward, Umno must undergo a genuine reckoning. It is time for Umno to face the harsh reality of Najib’s actions and to question whether loyalty to a disgraced leader is worth the cost of their party’s future.
Umno must come to terms with the possibility that some of its leaders may have been complicit in Najib’s corruption. This journey towards self-awareness and accountability is not only vital for the party’s future but also necessary for the integrity of Malaysia’s political system.
If Umno fails to rise to the challenge, the party will continue to lose credibility, casting itself as an institution that values loyalty to power over justice for the people.
To rebuild trust, Umno must take decisive action. This may include calling for an internal investigation, cooperating with the MACC, and ensuring no stone is left unturned in the search for truth. Umno must not only renounce Najib’s legacy but also sever any ties with those who may have been involved in or benefited from his schemes.
This transformation will require courage and honesty - qualities that Umno will need to rediscover if it hopes to regain the confidence of the people.
In the end, Umno must ask itself what kind of future it envisions. The choice is clear: either continue down the path of denial, cling to a tarnished legacy, or embrace a new era of transparency and accountability.
If Umno’s leaders continue to defend Najib, they betray not only the people but also the party’s values. The time has come for Umno to act with integrity, to demonstrate that it truly stands with the people of Malaysia, and to show that it values justice over personal loyalty.
If not, then Umno, you should indeed feel betrayed.
ZAREEN HUMAIRAH SEJAHAN is a former journalist with experience covering general and political news. She is taking time to delve into fresh perspectives and ideas.
Published: Nov 9, 2024 12:02 PM
COMMENT | The political landscape in Malaysia has faced an unyielding challenge in recent years: the downfall of Najib Abdul Razak and the aftermath within his political party, Umno.
Despite the solid evidence presented and a conviction upheld by the highest court in Malaysia, there remain voices within Umno which insist on Najib’s innocence.
This unwavering loyalty raises troubling questions, not only about the integrity of Umno’s leadership but also about the possibility of complicity within its ranks.
When a leader falls so spectacularly from grace, the political apparatus that once rallied around him must engage in deep introspection. But Umno’s refusal to recognise Najib’s guilt suggests a troubling detachment from both legal facts and public sentiment.
One must wonder, is Umno’s continued defence of Najib merely a sign of loyalty, or does it signal a deeper, more troubling reality of collusion and shared culpability?
The legal proceedings against the former prime minister laid bare a profound abuse of power. Convicted of being implicated in a scheme which saw billions siphoned from the nation’s coffers, Najib’s actions supported a web of political patronage and an extravagant lifestyle.
The convictions he received were not the result of circumstantial evidence but of a meticulous and thorough investigation that detailed a clear pattern of corruption, and yet Umno remains reluctant to sever ties with him.
The reluctance of Umno leaders to accept the court’s ruling raises questions about their own roles in the scandals that marred Najib’s tenure. If Umno leaders refuse to concede Najib’s guilt, one must ask whether they too have been implicated in the misdeeds.
Najib’s corruption
Indeed, Najib’s corruption was not an isolated phenomenon. For years, he was surrounded by a network of loyalists and supporters who, at the very least, most probably turned a blind eye to the excesses and abuses happening under his leadership.
If they continue to proclaim Najib’s innocence, it is not far-fetched to consider that they may have been direct beneficiaries of his schemes.
Moreover, Umno’s steadfast defence of Najib calls for a renewed examination by the MACC into the possible distribution of misappropriated funds. There is a genuine possibility that the money trail from Najib’s accounts did not end with him but rather flowed into the pockets of his political allies.
The MACC, therefore, has an obligation to dig deeper into the financial connections within Umno’s hierarchy, to uncover whether Najib’s corruption was part of a larger network of political patronage which benefited multiple individuals within the party.
Umno supporters must ask: why would leaders defend a convicted criminal unless they, too, have something to hide? This is no longer a matter of loyalty to a fallen leader; it is a question of accountability.
Umno has positioned itself as a party for the Malay people, claiming to champion integrity, nationalism, and justice. If Umno truly stood for the well-being of the nation, it would distance itself from Najib.
The unwillingness to do so reveals an uncomfortable truth: Umno may be less interested in justice and more focused on self-preservation.
Umno’s reluctance to accept Najib’s guilt further isolates it from the Malaysian public, who have grown weary of the corruption and cronyism that defined Umno’s administration.
Malaysians are demanding a higher standard of accountability from their leaders and Umno’s failure to respond to this demand risks its relevance in a rapidly changing political environment as it only fuels public suspicion.
Genuine reckoning
For Malaysia to move forward, Umno must undergo a genuine reckoning. It is time for Umno to face the harsh reality of Najib’s actions and to question whether loyalty to a disgraced leader is worth the cost of their party’s future.
Umno must come to terms with the possibility that some of its leaders may have been complicit in Najib’s corruption. This journey towards self-awareness and accountability is not only vital for the party’s future but also necessary for the integrity of Malaysia’s political system.
If Umno fails to rise to the challenge, the party will continue to lose credibility, casting itself as an institution that values loyalty to power over justice for the people.
To rebuild trust, Umno must take decisive action. This may include calling for an internal investigation, cooperating with the MACC, and ensuring no stone is left unturned in the search for truth. Umno must not only renounce Najib’s legacy but also sever any ties with those who may have been involved in or benefited from his schemes.
This transformation will require courage and honesty - qualities that Umno will need to rediscover if it hopes to regain the confidence of the people.
In the end, Umno must ask itself what kind of future it envisions. The choice is clear: either continue down the path of denial, cling to a tarnished legacy, or embrace a new era of transparency and accountability.
If Umno’s leaders continue to defend Najib, they betray not only the people but also the party’s values. The time has come for Umno to act with integrity, to demonstrate that it truly stands with the people of Malaysia, and to show that it values justice over personal loyalty.
If not, then Umno, you should indeed feel betrayed.
ZAREEN HUMAIRAH SEJAHAN is a former journalist with experience covering general and political news. She is taking time to delve into fresh perspectives and ideas.
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