Fundraiser for Najib’s fine becomes target of Malaysian ridicule
A campaign seeking 50 million ringgit to help former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak pay a court-imposed fine has drawn donations as small as one sen and widespread mockery. The reaction follows a decision allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
A fundraising campaign intended to help former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak pay a 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine has become a focus of public criticism and ridicule, the South China Morning Post reports. The campaign has received donations as small as one sen. Rather than generating broad support, the appeal has become a lightning rod for insults and mockery as Malaysians continue to criticise the decision to allow Najib to complete the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest.
King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted Najib what the report describes as a “conditional pardon” last Friday. Under that decision, the former leader will be permitted to serve the remainder of his sentence at home, provided he first pays the fine. The supplied material does not identify the organisers of the fundraiser or say how much money has been collected.
It also gives no details about the legal basis or conditions attached to the house-arrest arrangement beyond the requirement to pay the fine. The public response described in the report links the fundraising effort directly to continuing anger over Najib’s treatment. Small contributions, including one-sen donations, have been presented as part of that reaction rather than as evidence of progress towards the target.
The available account does not provide further comments from Najib, the royal household, the fundraiser’s organisers or Malaysian authorities.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.