New coalition an attempt to save Najib from jail?

Government veteran lawmaker Lim Kit Siang believes a breakup of the Pakatan Harapan coalition will lead to kleptocratic and corrupt politicians escaping jail.

He said Malaysians are asking why former Prime Minister Najib Razak is still not in jail, saying this was because Pakatan Harapan is consistent in wanting the rule of law and believes in a due legal process, but there are attempts to prevent this from happening.

“I know that many Malaysians are asking why the former prime minister, Najib Razak, who caused the infamy of being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy, (sic) is not yet in jail.

“However, we must be consistent in wanting to restore the rule of law and Malaysians must accept that the due legal process takes time,” he said.

Najib is facing trial in the 1MDB scandal but there is a belief among many in Malaysia that the trial is taking too long despite there being plenty of evidence to convict him.

Last week, accusations of a plot to destroy the Pakatan Harapan government and replace it with a new coalition in power to maintain the leadership of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the government surfaced.

Anwar Ibrahim, the PM-to-be made veiled references to the plot which he seemed to say was mooted by Najib’s cousin and former Defence Minister Hishamuddin Hussein who meets Dr Mahathir on a regular basis.

Anwar revealed the plot against his taking power and the breaking-up of the Pakatan in Parliament last week.

Members of the political alliance in power and some in opposition are also querying why Najib is still a free man, while there is internal opposition against Dr Mahathir stepping down as PM.

They also queried why Dr Mahathir has refused to set a timeline for his departure which would have ended speculations of a coalition breakup.

But the Bersatu, the party of Dr Mahathir has defended the latter’s ‘right’ to meet with Hishammuddin.

The former Defence Minister was questioned at length by anti-graft busters but no charges were filed against him.

After his questioning, he protested that defence ministers during Dr Mahathir’s first rule as PM should also be investigated in an alleged land scandal. -/TISG