The United Malays National Organisation settled the RM50 million penalty at the Kuala Lumpur High Court after raising money through a dedicated crowdfunding initiative. Clearing the balance met the requirements of a conditional royal pardon, prompting the court to authorize the remainder of the sentence to be served under house arrest through August 2028. In response to the transaction, critics have urged financial regulators and anti-graft investigators to formally audit the collected funds for potential money laundering.
Key points
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly broke with his coalition partner over the ethics of…: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly broke with his coalition partner over the ethics of settling penalties linked to major state corruption.
The fulfillment of the fine satisfies the requirements of a conditional royal pardon that…: The fulfillment of the fine satisfies the requirements of a conditional royal pardon that previously halved the former prime minister's prison sentence.
The financial maneuver has provoked regulatory scrutiny regarding the transparency and le…: The financial maneuver has provoked regulatory scrutiny regarding the transparency and legitimacy of political crowdfunding for convicted public figures.
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"It should not give the impression that corruption involving billions of ringgit can simply be overlooked," said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday (Nov 6) said he disagrees with the decision by former premier Najib Razak’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party to pay his RM50 (US$12.3 million) fine, stressing that corruption involving billions of ringgit should not be dismissed.
“If UMNO wants to pay the RM50 million, that is their decision, their business,” he told reporters, as quoted by news outlet New Straits Times (NST).
“My personal view is that I disagree. While we maintain a spirit of friendship with Najib, it should not give the impression that corruption involving billions of ringgit can simply be overlooked.”
Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition governs Malaysia alongside UMNO in the unity government.
Anwar on Friday said Malaysians must uphold firm moral principles against corruption and abuse of power.
“What do we want to teach our children? A strong moral principle that rejects abuse of power and corruption,” he added.
Roughly 65% of state voters backed Initiative 194 to strip corporate privileges from entities that spend money on local campaigns. Proponents designed this novel legal mechanism to circumvent federal precedent, arguing that states hold inherent authority over the powers they grant to businesses. The resulting framework could serve as a national model or face nullification by the state legislature and federal judiciary.
Manager Thomas Tuchel has opted to reshape his midfield options ahead of critical Nations League fixtures against Croatia and Spain. The tactical shift comes amid managerial concerns regarding recurring physical setbacks, even as the omitted playmaker maintains strong domestic form. The upcoming fixtures will test England's depth as they look to improve their standing in Group C.
Mutual vetoes by the United States and Russia at the Security Council abruptly terminated the 35-year-old Minurso peacekeeping mandate. This diplomatic rupture eliminates international monitoring across the disputed territory, leaving the Algeria-backed independence movement and Rabat without an active mediation framework. Officials warn that the void severely escalates the threat of full-scale conflict and wider regional destabilization.