AS Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob joined nearly 10,000 congregants in a solat hajat (special prayers) at the Putra Mosque last night (Aug 21) in conjunction with the Munajat Keluarga Malaysia programme, ex-premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak was busy preparing himself to take the sumpah mubahalah (swearing in the face of divine retribution) at the Kampung Baru mosque.
Ahead of his final appeal at the Federal Court tomorrow (Aug 23) to quash his 12-year jail term and RM210 mil fine for embezzlement of funds in the SRC International case, he read out the text of his oath after having performed the Isya’ prayers and solat hajat at the mosque.
By so doing, Najib who is affably known as Bossku to his supporters had solemnly sworn that he has no knowledge if the RM42 mil SRC International funds deposited into his personal account had come from the company.
“Secondly, I had never published or agreed to establish SRC International for the purpose of embezzling the funds for my personal use or for my family,” he swore while reading a prepared text.
“Thirdly, I had never instructed any SRC directors or officials to siphon the company’s money into my personal account for any reason.
“Fourthly, I was never involved in the Cabinet meeting to approve government guarantees for the loan from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) for RM4 bil to SRC to obtain ill-gotten gains amounting to RM42 mil,” he added in his oath.
If ever he has been deceitful, Najib said he is prepared “to be condemned upon this oath and therefore will accept God’s wrath”.
“(However), if these all are merely lies planned by my political rivals, then dear God, I ask upon you to punish them as well as those who are complicit and colluding with them,” he completed his oath with three chants of Allahu Akbar (God is Greater).
Earlier, the Pekan MP in his speech expressed hope that he will get justice and that the truth will prevail while enabling him “to clear the name of his family, including my late beloved father and mother”.
Najib with his son Nor Ashman arrived at the mosque at about 8.20pm before his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor joined them afterwards.
Not the first time
According to The Vibes news portal, this marks the fourth time that Najib has been known to take such religious oaths.
He had sworn at the same mosque in Kampung Baru on Dec 20, 2019 to deny allegations that he was involved in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu 13 years before.
In the ensuing ceremony, he declared that he had never seen Altantuya and denied all allegations on the matter made by former special task force officer Azilah Hadri in a statutory declaration.
On February 3 last year, he swore to deny that he had instructed anyone to transfer RM42 mil from SRC International’s coffers into his bank accounts.
He said this while uttering the relevant Arabic religious phrase during re-examination by his lawyer Farhan Read who had asked him to explain his denial that he had instructed former SRC International CEO Nik Faisal Ariff Kamil to transfer the money into his personal account.
Again, on December 8 last year, Najib swore religiously during an online media conference that he was innocent of the charges in relation to the SRC trial.
The hearing for Najib’s final appeal is expected to conclude on Aug 26, following which the apex court is expected to arrive at a decision shortly after. – Aug 22, 2022
