Umno hopes Najib conditional pardon will boost momentum ahead of melaka polls

JAKARTA: Umno hopes the Pardons Board's decision on former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will give the party added momentum ahead of the Melaka state election.

Its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the development could have a positive impact on Umno as it navigates the country's current political landscape.

"I hope this will add value to the current political landscape in our country," he told a press conference after the fifth Halal 20 (H20) Summit here today.

Earlier, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.

The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department said the decision was made at the 64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya at Istana Negara today.

On preparations for the state election, Zahid said he had given Melaka Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh the mandate to hold discussions with any political coalition.

He said Melaka BN would submit its list of candidates for consideration, with the candidates to be assessed based on reports from various quarters, while state assemblymen who had performed well would be retained where possible.

"We adhere to the WALI principle of having 'winnable, acceptable and likeable' candidates, so that winnability will favour the blue wave currently sweeping across the country, which began in Johor and Negeri Sembilan," he said.