RM70? Don’t Insult Us, Say NGO Organising A Rally

Before the rally on 23 January can happen, messages have been going around asking 300 supporters of former premier Najib Razak to attend and that they will be paid RM70 each person for attending. A check with the organiser of the proposed rally said there is no such intention, and they did not issue such messages.

“Come to think of it, it’s rather insulting that people associate us with that measly amount, because really, whenever Najib’s supporters are present, as far as I know they have never been paid to attend,” said a bemused Syed Muhammad Imran Abdul Aziz, chairman of Persatuan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia (PSUAM) that is organising this Sunday’s rally at PWTC here, aimed at drumming up support against the MACC.

“Our support for DSN is unwavering, you cannot put a price to it, at the same time it cannot even compare to all that he has done for the country in his nine years as Prime Minister and many years before that in his various capacities. As far as the rakyat is concerned, his contributions, especially to those in the B40 category, have been immense and we are probably unable to pay him back in this lifetime.”

Syed Imran said that they are calling on the Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) to open investigation papers on the alleged involvement of the family of former Bank Negara governor Zeti Aziz in the abuse of 1MDB funds.

“Despite calls and police reports made for the PDRM to open the investigation papers, they seem to be very lackadaisical about it,” said a seething Syed Imran.

“Because of that, we are organising a rally at PWTC on 23 January from 10.00 am to drum-up support against the MACC. Yet, before the event has even started, all kinds of malicious accusations have been thrown at us.

Najib’s Shadows

“These people seem to be afraid of DSN’s shadows. All I did was sent out invitation for his supporters to attend and that I will prepared lunch for the attendees. My friends and I are doing this sincerely as we are sure that the former premier has been conspired against and abused.”

He added that if Zeti, her husband Tawfik Ayman , and former Finance Minister Nor Yakcop, as well as the Ambank Report is being investigated thoroughly without fear, favour or prejudice, there is a strong possibility that the case would be thrown out.

Syed Imran said in an earlier statement that “MACC is abusing its power to hide new evidence, namely the ‘AMBANK Report’ which has linked ‘big names’ such as the former Bank Negara Governor and her husband Tawfiq,” adding that the release of this report, “can free Najib from all charges of court cases.”

PSUAM says it has previously lodged a report on abuse of power by the MACC itself at the Putrajaya MACC Headquarters and at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

The MACC confirmed earlier this month that it had opened an investigation paper related to the report made by PSUAM, says the NGO.

“However, we were surprised to find that the PDRM did not open any investigation papers, instead they would only refer to the MACC,” it adds.

“On 19 November 2021, the country was shocked by the MACC’s official statement that 1MDB-related money amounting to RM65 million was found in the bank account of Tawfik, the husband of Zeti Aziz, and that the money had been returned by the Singapore government to Malaysia. 

“Similarly, the return of money belonging to the former CEO of SRC International Sdn Bhd, Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil amounted to RM3.6 million was also returned to Malaysia.”

But the NGO is unhappy that no police action were taken against the owners of the accounts.

PSUAM said that they are certain that Zeti was the person who advised Najib to open an account in his personal name to receive contributions.

Backing Najib

The group is backing Najib in his fight to reverse the 12-year jailing sentence against him.

“The gathering is to feel the pulse and ‘expression of the conscience of the people’ in relation to the situation of the former Prime Minister. It is to gather support for Dato‘ Sri Najib Razak, loved by the people, who has been persecuted and denied justice, through, among others, the abuse of power by the MACC to withhold evidence that could acquit Najib of all court charges,

“The event is also about the concern of the public regarding rising food prices, worsening unemployment, withdrawal of EPF savings for post-Covid use/floods/job and business losses, post-flood problem management, voices of appeal & people’s grievances and more,” the statement added.