KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes justice will favour former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial.
Responding to recent reports that Najib will have to enter his defence on power abuse and money laundering charges, Ahmad Zahid reiterated that Najib should be given the chance to clear his name.
“He is being given the opportunity to clear himself after a prima facie case was established, and we hope that justice will side with him,” Ahmad Zahid said when met at the Madani Deepavali Open House here on Thursday (Oct 31).
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Najib, Malaysia’s sixth prime minister, is at the centre of one of the most significant corruption cases in the country’s history.
The charges involve the alleged misappropriation of billions of ringgit from 1MDB, a sovereign wealth fund he helped to establish in 2009.
The scandal, which saw funds allegedly diverted through a complex web of transactions including to bank accounts linked to Najib, has drawn global attention, resulting in investigations by multiple countries.
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In 2020, Najib was convicted of charges related to 1MDB subsidiary SRC International, leading to a 12-year prison sentence and a substantial fine.
Despite appealing the decision, he remains embroiled in further court proceedings, with more cases linked to the broader 1MDB scandal pending.
Ahmad Zahid’s comments come as Najib prepares for his next court appearance, which will be closely watched given its implications for Malaysia’s commitment to addressing high-level corruption.
