PARIT: Umno hopes the courts will consider allowing a portion of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s frozen personal assets to be released to pay his RM50 million fine, said Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
According to him the party is actively pursuing this effort.
“We hope the court will take this matter into consideration,” he said when asked whether any motion or plan was underway to unfreeze Najib’s accounts or assets specifically to settle the fine.
Asyraf, who is also Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) chairman, was speaking to reporters after the closing ceremony of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Cup MRSM Debate Competition at Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Parit.
Last week, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon to serve the remainder of his SRC International prison sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028.
However, this was subject to Najib meeting certain conditions, including paying a RM50 million fine.
Meanwhile Najib’s lawyers, Messrs Shafee & Co, said a significant part of his assets, bank accounts and properties remained subject to freezing orders and government enforcement proceedings, with their disposal not presently within his sole control.
Umno has since launched a donation drive to lighten Najib’s financial burden in settling the fine.
On the donation drive, Asyraf said that collections were expected to reach RM2 million as of today (Mon).
“We expect the collection to hit RM2 million today. On average, we are seeing additions of RM40,000 to RM50,000 every hour. This comes entirely from voluntary contributions. We did not make it mandatory for members. It is open to anyone wishing to help,” he said as quoted by NST.
