Najib Razak’s fundraising in Malaysia draws 1 sen donations, mockery

A fundraiser to help pay disgraced former leader Najib Razak’s 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine has become a lightning rod for insults and mockery, as Malaysians continue to pile criticism on a decision last week to allow him to spend the rest of his jail sentence under house arrest.

King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar last Friday granted Najib a “conditional pardon”, which will allow the jailed ex-prime minister to complete his term in the comfort of his home – provided he first pays off his fine.

In response to the royal decree, Najib’s Umno has launched a donation drive urging its members and the public to voluntarily contribute to the party’s efforts to fulfil the condition of the pardon so he can be transferred as soon as possible from Kajang prison to his home in the upscale suburb of Langgak Duta in Kuala Lumpur.

The party raised over 1 million ringgit as of the latest update on Saturday by Umno secretary general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, barely a day after the fund’s launch.