Umno harap pengampunan bersyarat Najib beri momentum pada PRN Melaka

Umno hopes conditional forgiveness for former Prime Minister Najib Razak will provide a boost for the party ahead of the Melaka PRN (state election). President Zahid Hamidi said the development could be a positive factor in navigating the current political landscape. "I hope so, it becomes an added value for the geopolitics at the helm of the political scene or the political landscape in our country, may Allah will," he said at a media briefing following the 20th Halal Summit here today.

Earlier, the King, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, graciously granted conditional forgiveness to Najib, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence in custody at home until August 23, 2028. According to the Prime Minister's Department Legal Division, the conditional forgiveness decision at the 64th Session of the Federal Territory, Labuan, and Putrajaya High Court, at Istana Negara, is subject to a RM50 million fine and adherence to conditions throughout the home confinement period.

Regarding the preparations for the Melaka PRN, Zahid also said he had given the mandate to Barisan Nasional (BN) Melaka's Pengerusi Ab Rauf Yusoh to hold discussions with any coalition of political parties. When asked about the candidates that will be fielded in the PRN, he said the list of names would be presented by BN Melaka before being reviewed based on reports from various parties, while an MP who showed good performance should be retained.

"We have the principle of WALI, winnable, acceptable and likeable candidate, so that we can win, supporting the blue wave that is sweeping through the country starting from Johor and Negeri Sembilan," he added. At the 2021 Melaka PRN, BN won 21 of the 28 vacant parliamentary seats, Pakatan Harapan (PH) obtained five seats, while Perikatan Nasional (PN) won two seats.