KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian opposition has lauded a High Court verdict that found former prime minister Najib Razak guilty of seven charges in his first corruption trial related to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Najib was convicted on Tuesday (Jul 28) of misappropriating RM42mil (US$9.8 million) from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the scandal-linked 1MDB.
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He was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million.
In a joint statement, the Pakatan Harapan's (PH) presidential council stated that the verdict is a "big victory" for Malaysians.
"The trial process surely would not have started if the people had not risen up to give the (election) victory to PH and defeat Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 14th general election," said the statement.
READ: Goldman Sachs, Malaysia agree to US$3.9 billion settlement over 1MDB
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The council recounted that questions over 1MDB's corporate governance had begun in 2011, when Parti Keadilan Rakyat's leader Anwar Ibrahim first raised the issue in parliament.
PH thanked all who had a hand in the process and singled out former attorney-general Tommy Thomas for initiating the legal proceedings.
"Thorough institutional reform needs to be carried out to ensure that the political climate then, which enabled the large scale damage and decline during BN's time, is not repeated," PH added.
AHMAD ZAHID URGES UMNO MEMBERS TO KEEP CALM
Meanwhile, United Malays National Organisation's (UMNO) president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, himself on trial for corruption, called on all levels of the party's leadership, members and supporters to keep calm.
(From right) Najib Razak, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Abdul Hadi Awang at the opening ceremony of parliament meeting on May 18, 2020. (Photo: Facebook/Najib Razak)
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