Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib Razak may seek re-election to parliament despite conviction over 1MDB scandal

Najib’s corruption-tainted party, Umno, clinched the premiership last month after it was ousted from power three years ago

Opponents have expressed fears that party leaders facing charges could secure leniency once back in control

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Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak. Photo: Bernama/dpa

Published: 1:40pm, 19 Sep 2021Updated: 7:59pm, 19 Sep 2021

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has not ruled out seeking re-election to parliament within the next two years, he told Reuters in an interview, despite a corruption conviction that would block him from running.

Najib’s corruption-tainted party, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), clinched the premiership last month after it was ousted from power three years ago over a multibillion-dollar scandal.

Opponents had expressed fears that party leaders facing criminal charges could secure leniency once back in control.

Najib, who served as premier for nine years until 2018, was found guilty of corruption last year and sentenced to 12 years in jail over one of many cases over the misappropriation of money from now-defunct state fund 1MDB.

He has denied wrongdoing and has appealed the verdict, while calling for a probe of his prosecution which he says was politically motivated.

He is still a member of parliament but the constitution bars him from contesting elections unless he gets a pardon or a reprieve from the country’s monarch.

Any politician who would want to play a role would want a seat in parliament

Najib Razak

Speaking to Reuters on Saturday, Najib challenged his disqualification, saying: “It is subject to interpretation.