KUALA LUMPUR – Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has publicly appealed to the mercy of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, requesting clemency and a reduction in sentence for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman said the appeal was intended to allow Najib, who is also a former Umno president, to return to his family and the party.
Zahid said he had never forgotten Najib, who remains behind bars and that he has stayed in constant contact with the former Pekan MP despite accusations that he was seeking to save himself.
“Day after day, it is repeatedly claimed that the decision to join the Unity Government was made for Zahid to save himself. Zahid is said to have abandoned his loyalty to Najib.
“In fact, our sympathy, our defence and our solidarity with ‘Bossku’ have been mocked and ridiculed. Whenever Najib’s name is mentioned, our support has never wavered. Our efforts to defend him have never faltered.
“Umno humbly seeks the benevolence of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to extend mercy to Your Majesty’s humble servant, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and to grant whatever consideration or leniency deemed appropriate so that he may return to his family and to all of us,” he said.
He said this during his presidential policy address at the Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Zahid also conveyed Najib’s greetings to all Umno delegates attending the General Assembly.
“He (Najib) personally contacted me in the midst of his hardship… and conveyed his greetings of Assalamualaikum to all delegates present,” he said.
He added that the current situation reflects the reality of political struggle and that patience is part of strength.
“Believe me, brothers and sisters, the leadership and I are not deaf to the voices of the grassroots. All grievances, anxieties and pressures — including calls to leave the government — are heard, assessed and carefully considered by the 13 levels of top leadership.
“However, the decision we have chosen is not an easy one. Rather, it is a decision grounded in the interests of the nation and the greater good of the ummah,” he said.
On Dec 26, 2025, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib guilty on 25 charges of money laundering and abuse of power in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal.
Trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah said the court found that the prosecution had proven its case against Najib beyond reasonable doubt.
As a result, Najib was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and fined RM11.38 billion for the abuse of power charges, in addition to five years’ imprisonment for each money laundering charge.
Failure to pay the fine would result in an additional 10 years’ imprisonment.
All prison sentences were ordered to run concurrently, bringing the total term of imprisonment to 15 years, which will commence after Najib completes his sentence relating to the SRC International case.
On Dec 22, the Kuala Lumpur High Court dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Judge Alice Loke Yee Ching delivered the decision after nearly an hour of submissions and judgment, ruling that Najib must continue serving the remainder of his sentence at Kajang Prison until its completion.