As Umno calls for reprieve, Rosmah says has no hand in Najib’s royal pardon request

KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 — Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor said today that she is not involved with Umno’s request for a royal pardon for his convicted husband Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In a rare public appearance, the wife of the former prime minister expressed her gratitude towards Umno members after a heartfelt tribute and not giving up on demanding justice for Najib during the past few days of the party’s general assembly.

“That I did not interfere [with],” she said when asked about Najib’s royal pardon update by the press.

“I feel very moved by the support given by Umno members who came to this AGM and I can feel how much they appreciate my husband’s struggle. They hope that my husband can be taken out as soon as possible and in their hearts all this time they know that my husband did not get a fair trial.”

She also reminisced about the time when her husband was still Umno president and thought about how the latter would scribble for the best words to address delegates in Dewan Merdeka.

“Sometimes, I think back on how when he was our president, he would be on stage planning his speech to delegates [on] how he will help the Malays and Malaysia,” she added.

Rosmah also told reporters that Najib used to stare into space when she sat with him in the car and said that her husband has always been thinking about the people and the country.

“I want to tell you that he always thinks about the people and the country. Sometimes I get in the car with him and he asks what the people and the country are not enough for,” she added.

Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had given assurance that the jailed former prime minister Najib is a supporter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led administration.

Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, had pleaded for the convicted former prime minister to be given justice as Anwar was seated on the main stage at Dewan Merdeka.

Two days ago, it was reported that Najib, who is now serving a 12-year jail sentence for stealing RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, was conferred the youth leadership award by his party’s youth wing this morning.

Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, the newly-elected Umno Youth chief, said the accolade was a token of appreciation for Najib’s services and contribution to the country.

He praised Najib for rolling out pro-people “holistic” policies.