{
  "id": 8606310,
  "title": "No one should feel obliged to help pay RM50m fine, Najib tells supporters as Umno solidarity fund hits RM1m",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/no-one-should-feel-obliged-to-help-pay-rm50m-fine-najib-tells",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T04:26:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/20/no-one-should-feel-obliged-to-help-pay-rm50m-fine-najib-tells-supporters-as-umno-solidarity-fund-hits-rm1m/235853"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has told his supporters that those who have offered to help cover the RM50 million fine demanded as part of his conditional royal pardon should not feel obliged to do so. This was conveyed by his legal team, Messrs Shafee & Co, which stated that while Najib is appreciative of the solidarity shown by Malaysians, he does not want the party or its members to feel pressured in any way.\n\nThe Najib Razak Solidarity Fund, established by the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) to aid Najib in meeting the payment, has amassed RM1 million in donations by 9:30 am on the day it was launched. The initial contributions poured in quickly, with the fund receiving RM165,645 in the first hour and RM634,562.02 within three hours, as reported by Umno's secretary-general, Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki. Many supporters have shown their generosity by giving RM10 or RM50.\n\nAs the fundraising campaign gained momentum, Asyraf announced that the fund had reached the RM1 million mark, urging contributors to continue their support, even with contributions as small as RM10. The initiative aims to comply with all relevant regulations and laws while being transparent and systematic in its operations.\n\nSince the Federal Territories Pardons Board granted Najib a conditional pardon on Friday, he has been able to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, with the last day set for August 23, 2028. This comes with the stipulation of paying the RM50 million fine and adhering to other conditions. The pardon applies exclusively to the prison sentence imposed in the SRC International case, according to the Attorney General's clarification.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says Malaysians who have offered to help pay...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "PAS guna isu Najib dekati Umno, penganalisis beza pandangan",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/pas-guna-isu-najib-dekati-umno-penganalisis-beza-pandangan",
        "published": "2026-09-20T00:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "PKR MP urges Harapan to go on 'offensive' as Najib becomes 'burden' for Umno, PAS",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/pkr-mp-urges-harapan-to-go-on-offensive-as-najib-becomes-burden-for",
        "published": "2026-09-20T04:04:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "No one should feel obliged to help pay RM50m fine, Najib tells supporters as Umno solidarity fund hits RM1m",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/no-one-should-feel-obliged-to-help-pay-rm50m-fine-najib-tells-8634970",
        "published": "2026-09-20T04:26:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}