Senior PAS leaders attend UMNO assembly as party ties come back into focus

KUALA LUMPUR, September 11 — At Umno’s general assembly today, the wife of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, received warm applause from the attendees. Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi extended a formal invitation to Rosmah to join the delegates, eliciting thunderous applause from the hall. "Hopefully there will be the best news today, God willing," Zahid remarked when launching his policy speech. Sitting beside Zahid’s wife, Datin Seri Hamidah Khamis, Rosmah observed the proceedings.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board is scheduled to convene this morning to consider Najib’s clemency request, which FMT reported is anticipated to be among the key matters discussed during the session. It remains uncertain whether the board will make an immediate decision or opt for preliminary deliberations. According to a separate source, the option of enabling Najib to complete his prison term under house arrest might be considered, although it is unclear if this proposal will be formally deliberated at the morning meeting.

Najib, 72, was convicted of embezzling RM42 million from SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with a RM210 million fine. Beginning his sentence on August 23, 2022, at Kajang Prison, he initially served six years and paid a reduced fine of RM50 million after a partial pardon by the FT Pardons Board in 2024. However, Najib and his legal team challenged this decision, leading to the dismissal of his appeal in December 2023.