Najib remains in Kajang despite BN win in Johor, proving law and politics differ, Jamil Khir says

SEREMBAN – Barisan Nasional’s (BN) strong performance in the Johor state election has sparked renewed political discussion, but Umno leader Jamil Khir Baharom said the outcome should not be linked to the legal status of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Jamil said while some parties had previously used Najib’s case as part of their campaign narrative in Johor, matters involving court decisions, prison authorities and legal processes must be viewed separately from election results.

The Umno Supreme Council member said the perception that a major BN victory could lead to Najib’s release had emerged during the Johor election campaign, but stressed that such matters were beyond the scope of political contests.

"People created a perception during Johor that if there was a big win, Bossku would be freed. But we must separate matters involving security, prisons and courts from the election process," he told reporters after the launch of the Negeri Sembilan Women's Pledge at Wisma Umno Negeri Sembilan on Thursday.

He pointed out that despite BN's decisive victory in Johor, Najib remains at Kajang Prison, showing that legal procedures operate independently from political developments.

"Even after winning big in Johor, he is still in Kajang. That itself shows that election results and legal matters cannot be mixed together," he said.

BN won a landslide victory in the Johor state election, securing 40 out of 56 seats, a result that strengthened the coalition's political momentum ahead of upcoming state elections.

However, Jamil said the political landscape in Negeri Sembilan would present different challenges, with local issues and voter concerns expected to shape the contest.

He said political parties must focus on issues affecting the people rather than relying solely on perceptions created during campaigns.

The discussion surrounding Najib also comes as BN seeks to maintain support among voters following its strong performance in Johor, while competing coalitions prepare for the Negeri Sembilan state election.

Jamil said democratic processes allowed parties to present their arguments to voters, but ultimately, legal matters must continue to follow established procedures.