14 years later, ex-detainee repays Malaysia’s Najib for life-changing second chance

A Malaysian tofu pudding seller has pledged to donate 10,000 ringgit (US$2,452) to help former prime minister Najib Razak cover his 50 million ringgit fine, describing the contribution as a personal payback for a lifeline extended to him 14 years ago.

In a social media post, Sunny Seow, founder of the Sunnycoco brand, shared that his motivation stemmed from a pivotal moment in 2012 when he was serving a sentence in Perak state’s Manjung for past mistakes.

During a visit by Najib to the area that year, Seow sought the help of a local village chief to submit an appeal to the home ministry requesting an early release to care for his elderly parents.

“Unexpectedly, I received a notification from the home ministry that I could end my detention early and return home,” Seow said. “For others, it might be just a letter or a bit of assistance, but for me at that time, it was an opportunity to start anew.”