KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has not received the justice he deserves, an Umno vice-president has claimed.
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said this was why Umno believed that Najib, who is imprisoned, must be given justice.
"The party will not forget the contributions of its past leaders. Even if others have a different view or stance (on the matter), Umno should continue to stand by its principles and decisions," he said on the sidelines of the Umno General Assembly here today.
Khaled, who is also the Defence Minister, was responding to a question about the party's differing view on Najib's imprisonment with some of its allies in government.
Earlier, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party remains resolute in fighting for Najib.
Zahid said the party were undeterred even though some parties have questioned affidavits he and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail filed on a purported Addendum Order from the former King allowing Najib to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.
Najib was initially given a 12-year jail sentence and fined RM210 million after his conviction for corruption involving RM42 million of SRC International funds.
The former prime minister is currently serving his sentence in Kajang Prison.
Earlier this year, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by the then King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, halved Najib's jail term and reduced his fine to RM50 million.
Najib has filed an appeal to serve out the remainder of his six-year jail sentence under house arrest, citing an alleged supplementary royal order signed by the former King allowing him to do so.