Umno faces criticism over political elitism, dynastic politics

SHAH ALAM – Umno has come under criticism from a social media user who questioned the party members' response to corruption controversies involving its leaders, describing them as shameless and accusing political elites of looking after their own interests.

In an Instagram Story, account holder @cikgurahayu also questioned why Malaysians continued to support the party despite the controversies.

The post also criticised the involvement of politicians' children in politics, questioning their emergence as the next generation of leaders from families embroiled in corruption controversies.

“Not a single Umno member is ashamed of this. The elites are celebrating instead,” the post read.

The account holder also accused certain politicians of invoking religion and race to gain public support while serving their own interests.

“The elites and all those Voldemort are the ultimate problem to the nation,” the post read.

The criticism came amid public attention on former prime minister and former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's SRC International case following a Kuala Lumpur High Court decision on Nov 10 allowing him to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest.

The ruling gave effect to a conditional royal pardon granted by Sultan Ibrahim on Sept 18, allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.

Umno paid the RM50 million fine on Nov 6 using funds collected through the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund.

Najib was convicted in 2020 over the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. He was found guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust and three counts of money laundering.

His original 12-year prison sentence and RM210 million fine were reduced to six years and RM50 million respectively following a decision by the Pardons Board in January 2024.