{
  "id": 8217095,
  "title": "Eric See-To defends Umno fundraising effort for Najib",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/eric-see-to-defends-umno-fundraising-effort-for-najib",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T09:11:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/09/1535557/eric-see-defends-umno-fundraising-effort-najib"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Barisan Nasional communications deputy director Datuk Eric See-To has questioned the criticism of Umno's fundraising campaign to aid former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in paying a RM50 million fine. See-To argued that the DAP had also solicited donations to assist its leaders, yet Umno's fundraising effort for Najib has been under scrutiny. He questioned why DAP's fundraising for its leaders is permissible, but Umno's aid to a non-governmental organization for Najib is not. See-To emphasized that if DAP can raise nearly RM4 million, then Najib should at least be 12 times more popular than Guan Eng and 20 times more popular than another individual who raised RM2.5 million. In a Facebook post, See-To suggested that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's fundraising effort aimed to alleviate Najib's financial burden in settling the fine. Earlier, Najib was granted a conditional pardon that allows him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, with the condition of paying the RM50 million fine. The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department confirmed Najib's compliance with all conditions for him to continue his house arrest until August 23, 2028, as His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, had consented to the conditional pardon.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Former Barisan Nasional strategic communications deputy director Datuk Eric See-To has criticised scrutiny of Umno’s move to raise funds to help former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pay his RM50 million fine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "[UPDATED] House arrest 'very meaningful' for Najib and Umno",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/updated-house-arrest-very-meaningful-for-najib-and-umno",
        "published": "2026-09-18T05:30:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Umno lancar tabung bantu Najib bayar denda RM50 juta",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/umno-lancar-tabung-bantu-najib-bayar-denda-rm50-juta",
        "published": "2026-09-18T06:10:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}