KUALA LUMPUR: A special closed-door meeting between Umno President, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, and Umno division chiefs this evening is expected to discuss developments related to Datuk Seri Najib Razak later today.
Batu Umno division chief, Gulam Muszaffar Gulam Mustakim, said that all 191 Umno division chiefs received invitations for the meeting yesterday.
He said that until now, 150 Umno division chiefs have expressed their agreement to attend, while others cannot do so due to other commitments.
"This special closed-door meeting is expected to discuss current political developments, including Datuk Seri Najib's situation," he told reporters here.
Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, on his social media, announced the special closed-door meeting scheduled to take place at Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur at 4pm today.
The Umno Supreme Council meeting yesterday also held discussions before reaching a resolution to continue efforts to seek defence for Najib, the former president of the party.
LINK: https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/02/1009291/umno-supreme-counci...
The meeting also agreed that the defence in question is in line with the country's legal system, in addition to adhering to the decision of the Umno General Assembly regarding the pardon for the former Prime Minister.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Federal Territories Pardons Board, Law Division in the Prime Minister's Department, announced that Najib had been granted a 50 per cent reduction for the 12-year prison sentence he has been serving since 2022. This would see the former prime minister's potential release on August 23, 2028.
LINK: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/02/1008988/najib-be-released-aug...
In addition to the early release date, the fine to be paid by Najib has also been reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
However, if the fine is not paid, Najib's prison term will be extended by a year, with his scheduled release date on August 23, 2029.
At the same time, Bandar Tun Razak Umno division chief, Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar, said that his party is unsure about the meeting agenda scheduled for this evening.
"Only yesterday we were informed to attend a meeting with the president... but I cannot answer (on anything yet) because the meeting has not taken place," he said.