'My father is only guilty of doing his best for his country': Nooryana Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's daughter has, once again, come to her father's defence, this time against recent criticism from folks in Umno.

The former prime minister has been under fire from people within his own party, who have called him "baggage" and questioned his presence during the Sungai Kandis by-election, which Barisan Nasional's (BN) candidate Datuk Lokman Adam lost to Pakatan Harapan.

The ousted BN chairman, who is facing seven charges in total for the SRC International Bhd case, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), has even been blamed for the coalition’s loss in the 14th general election by people who once revered him.

But according to his daughter, Najib had tried his best to serve the people of Malaysia and make their lives better.

"The only thing he is guilty of is trying to do his best for his country," said Nooryana Najwa Najib in a comment piece published in Malaysiakini.

She claimed that her father's appearance in Sungai Kandis was "a reflection of… what he loves (doing) most – spending time with the rakyat."

"When anyone asks for help, as long as the request is reasonable, he has never put his needs first. It's always about the other person asking for help.

"He has never abandoned the rakyat, companions, and comrades in challenging times although today, some may be doing just that. For most of his life, (my father) has tried to serve the people of Malaysia and make their lives better and the nation better and stronger," she wrote.

Nooryana claimed that even she felt responsible to show support to Lokman, who was brave enough to galvanise support on the night Najib was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

"He was one of the few who stood outside the MACC building the night dad was taken in. As a daughter, worried for her father's safety, I felt relieved there was a group of (Najib) supporters who showed that he wasn't alone in this battle to clear his name.

"When someone goes against the grain to stand up for your family, wouldn’t you feel obliged to return the favour if he or she needs a helping hand? It's only natural that we reciprocate other people's thoughtful deeds," Nooryana said.

She added that her father could have put his circumstances first, but that would have been at the expense of letting down someone who wanted and needed his help.

Nooryana ended her piece by saying that while times are tough now, her father is a tough man too – one who has been made "the main political target by those who wanted power for themselves."

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