Despite roadblocks, heavy police presence, and warnings against a solidarity gathering for Najib, Umno, PAS, and Bersatu leaders are seen as crowds gather near the Palace of Justice

Hundreds of people have gathered on the sidewalks and side roads in the vicinity of the Palace of Justice here early today to show solidarity with convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

While most of the crowd are dressed in casual attire, some are dressed in red T-shirts emblazoned with “Justice for Bossku” and Najib’s name.

The supporters begin chanting “Bossku” as a convoy of police cars, including the one transporting the former leader to the Court of Appeal for his hearing, comes into view.

Security here has been heightened as early as 6 am, with the first roadblock set up at the exit of Jalan Sentosa, directing traffic away from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.

The roadblocks were put in place to prevent the entry of weapons, banners, or signs that contained offensive or inciting messages related to the rally.

Police patrol cars are also making the rounds, and officers are stationed at key points leading to the court complex.

Authorities are on high alert because PAS and Islamic groups like Ummah and Perkasa insisted on going ahead with a planned solidarity rally that was first called by Najib’s party, Umno. This happened here today, while the 71-year-old is appealing the decision to throw out his bid to serve the rest of his six-year prison sentence while being housed.

Najib was convicted of seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering RM42 million funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of sovereign investment company 1MDB, in July 2020 and originally sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million.

He began his jail sentence at Kajang Prison on August 23, 2022.

Later, authorities reduced his sentence to six years in prison and an RM50 million fine.

On January 3, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced the party’s cancellation of the Najib solidarity gathering following a statement from Istana Negara clarifying that applications for pardons or sentence reductions must be submitted by the prisoner themselves to the Pardons Board, chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Despite the Umno top leadership’s decision to dissociate the party from the rally, some members have turned up.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr. Muhamad Akmal Saleh was among the more prominent figures spotted.

“A true man stands with the people.

“I’m not sitting in a hotel and exploiting them,” he posted on his Facebook account, even as the gathering gained momentum.

Rally participants who turned up early started huddling on the right side of the court complex at about 8 am, where a food stall was set up selling fresh, hot nasi lemak for RM3 in reheatable plastic containers, along with other breakfast options.

Many people purchased their morning meal, consumed it immediately, and then walked to the rear of the court complex.

Snatches of their conversation overheard revolved around the Najib legal team’s past bids to the court for the royal addendum.

Others could be heard saying, “We’re here for Najib; he contributed a lot to the nation.”.

Back out in front of the Palace of Justice, a larger crowd, possibly numbering well over a thousand, had formed.

The majority of the men were dressed in white and green attire, wearing kopiah, and shouting “Takbir!”

Soon after, politicians affiliated with the federal opposition Perikatan Nasional began arriving.

Among the earliest were Parti Pribumi Bersatu’s Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah and PAS’ Mohd Zamri Mohd Zainuldin, who immediately greeted the crowd and shook hands with participants.