Pengampunan Najib dijangka beri kesan bercampur kepada Umno, BN

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine for his involvement in the 1MDB scandal. The Federal Territory Syarikat Pengampunan (FTP) has since reduced his prison term to six years and the fine to RM50 million. Political analysts believe that Najib's pardon could have mixed effects on Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Azmi Hassan, Mazlan Ali, and Tawfik Yaakub, political analysts, stated that Najib's pardon would boost Umno's grassroots support, especially among those who believe he was a victim of political persecution. He would also bring fresh energy to Umno as the general election approaches. Additionally, it would provide a respite for Umno's long-time leader, who has been advocating for this issue.

Mazlan from the University of Technology Malaysia noted that many Malay voters still view Najib as a significant contributor to the nation, despite his imprisonment and ongoing legal battles. His support was evident during the July 2021 Penang state election when the PH used the Najib pardon issue against the BN, resulting in a significant victory for the coalition. However, analysts warn that Najib's pardon could weaken BN's efforts to rebuild its image.

PH may capitalize on this issue to revive the 1MDB scandal and attack BN, potentially losing support from non-Malay, urban, and upper-middle-class voters. Furthermore, other pending legal issues involving Najib could pose problems for BN if he is found guilty in future cases and re-imprisoned. If PH misinterprets the pardon as an endorsement of reformist policies, it could further strain relations between PH and Umno. Analysts also fear that a strong defense of Najib could create tensions between PH and Umno.