Najib, sitting in his KL mansion, may save Rafizi a Melaka knockout

Najib, sitting in his KL mansion, may save Rafizi a Melaka knockout




Thursday, 12 Nov 2026 8:51 AM MYT

By Praba Ganesan


Summary

• The article discusses the potential electoral impact of Najib Razak's transition to home arrest on the political landscape in Melaka, with a focus on its implications for the Bersama party.
• Rafizi Ramli, a key figure in Bersama, hopes to capitalize on the discontent among DAP supporters, triggered by Najib's reduced jail term, to revive the party's fortunes in the upcoming elections.
• Despite low expectations for Bersama's immediate success, gaining enough protest votes to avoid losing deposits could grant the party increased credibility.
• This situation highlights the complex interplay between historical grievances and current electoral dynamics in Malaysian politics.

NOVEMBER 12 — As they say, the universe works in mysterious ways.

Rafizi Ramli and his merry men — and women — in the old streets of Melaka are about to be recipients of electoral fortune from Najib Razak’s home arrest.

In a reversal of fate, one of the key architects of Najib’s demise in 2018 has a chance to resuscitate his flailing party, Bersama, as a result of the former prime minister’s departure from Kajang Prison.

In fact, the drawn-out “does paying RM50 million end the jail term altogether?” fiasco has only sleazed up perceptions leading to voting on November 14, in Bersama’s favour.


How did we get here?

Them events

On November 6 — as if competing with the opening of Tamil thriller Jailer 2 starring Superstar Rajnikanth for Deepavali — despite initial denials, Team Najib paid the required fine. RM50 million is no loose change but the folks pooled it to get their man to his KL mansion.

These were initially set off on September 18, 2026 by the Pardons Board under the Yang DiPertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim, almost two months prior.


But how does the Najib move benefit Bersama? To understand that, a circuitous past damaged DAP is necessary.




Police are seen in the compound of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s home along Jalan Langgak Duta in Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur on November 6, 2026. — Picture by Choo Choy May



Go directly to jail in Kajang, do not pass Go, do not pay RM50 million

Pakatan’s 2018 victory relied partially on forcing a reckoning for the 1MDB scandal, unearthed by players in and out of the country. Mahathir Mohamad called Najib a thief throughout the campaign, and DAP was closely behind him.

The 2020 Sheraton Move stumble did not undo the Najib prosecutions.

There is a psychological grip 1MDB and DAP have on each other.

It was euphoria for DAP that Najib saw the inside of the jail cell while an Umno prime minister was in charge in August 2022. That they were in the Opposition did not dampen the schadenfreude they felt witnessing Najib in prison.

The good days did not last.

Eighteen months later, and now DAP is in government, Najib receives the first gift from the Pardons Board — term halved and fine brought down from RM210 million to RM50 million — in January 2024. It was accompanied by a controversial royal addendum dragging so many through the courts.

Calls were loud to relieve KL Minister Zaliha Mustafa. The spectre of a free Najib was becoming real and traditional DAP supporters were not pleased.

This culminates with the “home prison” decision last September. When DAP darling Hannah Yeoh is KL minister. A party leader plays a role in the release.

The faithful were incensed.

To placate the fury, party secretary-general Anthony Loke offers to resign rather than Yeoh. However, Loke delays his departure to when Najib actually begins his “home arrest”.

He left the post this week.

DAP has been on notice for some time.

It has been shedding support steadily over the years for its complicity in Pakatan errors in government, and this Najib debacle with the party in full drama mode renders the organisation ineffectual and tedious in the eyes of its fans.

Loke's exit was too long drawn.

The voters have a chance to send that displeasure message on Saturday.

If not them, then who?

There are four state seats in Kota Melaka parliamentary, DAP’s fiefdom. Duyong is in play and Ayer Keroh in Hang Tuah Jaya has to be defended.

Many DAP voters will mill into polling booths on November 14 and ensure DAP keep their four seats and even secure an additional seat or two.

Then to the others.

Some may stay home and enjoy a cendol gula melaka at lunch time without voting. Some may give Bersama a chance.

A righteous party is not the same as a party winning seats. Winning matters, regardless of righteousness.

Bersama has many podcasts from the usual characters, unfortunately no charismatic candidate with the capacity to pull in the votes. The abysmal show in Johor of all 15 competitors losing their deposits and the no show in Negeri Sembilan was followed by an early pledge to compete in Melaka. Rafizi named his team on August 15.

They’d have campaigned for three months when Saturday arrives. He took a leaf from American politics, lengthy campaigns but missed out on a minor point; in a campaign the candidates must campaign. Not seeing time pass from the sides of the Melaka River.

Compare apples and apples. BN, PN and Pakatan candidates are flat. Our political field is filled with people who look eminently qualified on a billboard until they open their mouths. Which is why the coalition bosses cringe when they speak.

However, Bersama cannot be plastic and triumph. As the Johnny-Come-Lately on the scene, the 16 candidates must fire up in TikTok and Instagram or risk being goofy interlopers.

Protest votes against DAP can verily land on Bersama’s lap.

This is not an announcement for upsets on election day. The column is fairly convinced all 16 candidates will lose, most of them badly.

However, the Najib situation offers a respite. They may sequester enough support to have up to three or four not lose their deposits, garner an eighth or 12.5 per cent of the votes.

Thanks to disgruntled DAP voters in Kesidang or Kota Laksmana, and fairly certain MCA cannot steal a victory, they can pass their support to Bersama. DAP wins, with a slashed majority.

This is the last chance to forward a protest via an election to Loke and friends.

By voting for Bersama in the super safe DAP seats. And by doing so allowing Bersama to achieve respectability.

This is not unusual. In the last state election in 2021, DAP suffered and rebounded in the federal election a year later. All Melaka seats were won by Pakatan in 2022 despite BN with 75 per cent of the state seats in 2021.

That’s the chance for Bersama. Not to be summarily dismissed by Melaka voters. To win a degree of respectability, thanks to protest votes.

Something for Rafizi, the Bersama member, to build on for the general election.

Three elections in, Bersama must exhibit a sign of life. It can’t point to its relative age as an excuse indefinitely.

Parti Wawasan Negara made a winning debut in Negeri Sembilan, topping three of its four races. If it wins either one of its two races in Melaka, it’s steady progress.

Bersama flirts with the likelihood of being called the new MUDA, or worse the old Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM). Being typecast as a perennial second runner-up in a two-horse race is political suicide.

Which is why Rafizi needs an upside from Melaka.

For now, not losing deposits would allow Rafizi and Bersama to stand beside the adult’s table. He can thank the timing of Najib’s transfer to Langgak Duta.