In their statement on Sunday, Najib’s lawyers at Messrs Shafee & Co. said given that a significant part of Najib’s assets remains subject to freezing orders and enforcement proceedings, “our client is presently taking advice and considering his options as to how best to give effect to the condition”.
Najib “does not wish the party, its members and supporters, or members of the public to feel burdened or obliged on his account”, the statement added.
“He remains profoundly grateful to those who, entirely of their own free will and according to their respective means, have chosen to offer their support and assistance,” it said.
The solidarity fund had raised RM634,000 within the first three hours and reached RM1 million by 9.30am on Saturday.
UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said “many contributed as little as RM10 and RM50” and urged supporters to continue giving.
Khoo, the Malaysian lawyer, said that while foreign donations are permitted for the crowdfunding drive, compliance with anti-money laundering and exchange control regulations would be required.
“In terms of relatively large transfers domestically, information would be required about the purpose of the transfer,” he told CNA.
A FORM OF POLITICAL MOBILISATION
The fundraising has also drawn criticism from some leaders of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, UMNO’s partner in the federal government.
Democratic Action Party (DAP) chief Anthony Loke offered to resign last Saturday as Malaysia’s Transport Minister in protest of the conditional pardon granted to Najib, which he said was “difficult to accept for DAP and many Malaysians”.
Separately, Amanah Youth executive committee member Fadhli Umar Aminolhuda questioned why UMNO was mobilising its grassroots to help pay Najib’s fine, while Johor DAP vice-chairman Sheikh Omar Ali likened the move to asking villagers to help pay a fine for misusing their money.
“Money from the villagers’ own pockets was misused but now those villagers are being asked to help pay the fine from their own pockets,” Sheikh Omar said in a Facebook post.
“What kind of lesson is this that we are teaching the people?”
Political experts say that UMNO’s crowdfunding initiative is a form of political mobilisation and “an attempt to show to the public that the party still has a robust grassroots machinery”.
“If they fail, (it not only) shows that the grassroots machinery is not as strong as before, but it may also weaken UMNO’s bargaining power with Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) and Wawasan,” said Adib Zalkapli of Viewfinder Global Affairs, referring to negotiations on collaborations between the parties in upcoming state elections.
James Chin, an Asian studies professor at the University of Tasmania, compared UMNO’s crowdfunding drive for Najib with PAS’ practice of raising money from its party members and grassroots supporters through its “Milo tin” funds, which party leaders have said helped finance its activities and election campaigns.
“Part of the reason why they want to play this game is because they saw how successful PAS is in mobilising its supporters … so UMNO is going to replicate that,” Chin told CNA.
Local media reported on Wednesday that under the house arrest arrangement, Najib will live alone under strict supervision by the Prisons Department, with family visits restricted.
Najib’s lawyer Hasnal Rezua Merican said the Langgak Duta house was chosen because no family members currently live there, reported Utusan Malaysia
