THERE would not have been any obsession by Malaysians over disgraced former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak if the latter had been allowed to serve his original sentence of a 12-year jail term alongside a RM210 mil fine for plundering the nation’s wealth via the 1MDB fiasco.
This is till PMX Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself sparked public interest in Najib by seeking clemency for the latter (purportedly due to UMNO pressure) even though Najib has been labelled as “the biggest kleptocrat in the world”.
Henceforth, PMX’s role in facilitating the Pardons Board hearing – and later, prospect of a house arrest – further fuelled such obsession, according to Siti Kasim.
“Such is your own doing as well so don’t blame Malaysians for being critical of your action,” asserted the human rights activist and lawyer in her latest YouTube rant.
“Najib had previously held a highly coveted post as PM whereby Malaysians placed high hopes on him to ensure our country would be well-administered.
“So, when we got to know that the PM himself siphoned away a substantial sum of the nation’s wealth, obviously Malaysians were shocked to the bone.”
For context, Anwar had recently questioned an apparent “obsession” held over the 1MDB scandal and incarcerated Najib while there are still many other corruption-related cases amounting to billions lost.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera’s “101 East”, PMX stressed that he remains a strong proponent against the 1MDB scandal and insisted that there are many other leaders who steal billions.
‘You yourself fuel obsession’
In all fairness, Siti Kasim observed that the obsession towards Najib had already subsided after the Federal Court upheld the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s a 12-year jail term and RM210 mil fine on Najib on Aug 23, 2022.
“Then out of the blue, the so-called Najib obsession re-surfaced following a pardon application to reduce his sentence … You yourself have admitted doing so on Najib’s behalf,” argued the Orang Asli advocate.
“Therefore, the issue exploded once again after Najib had barely settled down in prison … Are you aware that many prisoners, too, have sought to apply for clemency from the Pardons Board, some for tens of years without any success?
“But all of a sudden Najib could obtain a pardons’ hearing which led to his jail sentence lightened by half to six-years and his fine reduced substantially (by 76%) to RM50 mil.”
Siti Kasim further questioned PMX’s selective action of pushing for Najib’s pardon which has set tongues wagging.
“If indeed you’re concerned over the rights of prisoners, then why didn’t you facilitate the application of other tens if not hundreds of prisoners who’re awaiting their meeting with the Pardons Board?” she wondered.
“How can Malaysians not voice their discontent as they viewed your action something not right?
“Moreover, Najib is allowed to go in and out of the court not as a prisoner but with escort and posh car … I haven’t seen him donning the orange or purple prison garb except in in his deemed Aamani suits.”
Siti Kasim went on to query PMX’s conviction towards eradicating corruption in the country when his own deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was released from 47 charges involving multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering with a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
“What kind of justice is that? How can Malaysians remain silent watching all the so-called clicks of the ruling government be released from their graft charges mid-way through their court cases,” she hit out.
“Where’s the logic that while the plunderers are let off, you accused us as plunderers instead … Don’t treat us like fools for you may not realise that news travel fast on social media these days unlike the 1990s when you’re apprehended and jailed.
“Even if there were to be social media back then, what happened to you would also have exploded and people would be talking about it in every nook and corner.” – May 18, 2025
