Anwar: Respect for King’s decision does not bar legal advice on Najib

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is currently serving his prison sentence for misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. The conviction came after a trial in which he was found guilty of taking national wealth for personal gain. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon in August 2022, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, provided he pays a RM50 million fine and complies with prescribed conditions.

Anwar Ibrahim, the current Prime Minister of Malaysia, expressed his firm stance against corruption and the misuse of national wealth during a 3 Generations Appreciation Dinner in Bangi on Saturday. He stated that respect for the Federal Constitution and the King's decision in Najib's case does not prevent him from providing views and legal advice based on the law and jurisprudence. Anwar emphasized that the government's position remains clear - corruption and the plundering of national wealth cannot be tolerated.

Najib Razak, now 73 years old, is serving his sentence at Kajang Prison. Anwar referenced other controversial institutions, such as Lembaga Tabung Haji, the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda), and 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), highlighting that those who have plundered wealth must answer for their actions. He stressed that whatever the decision, it should not deviate from saving the country.

In a separate matter, Anwar discussed the government's review of Malaysia's minimum wage, currently set at RM1,700 for the private sector. He indicated that the final stages of the review were being completed before it would be presented to the Dewan Rakyat on October 9. Anwar argued that the wage disparity, particularly for graduates entering the workforce, necessitated a higher minimum wage.

He criticized the current system where CEOs receive multiple months of bonus, while lower-level workers receive only a few months. Anwar committed to breaking this practice and advocated for equal bonus periods for all employees. He proposed that the RM3,100 minimum wage for government-linked companies (GLCs) be used as a benchmark for private-sector employers, and criticized large companies that record high profits but fail to raise workers' wages accordingly.