UMNO leader accuses Anwar, Loke and AG of conspiring to keep Najib behind bars

KUALA LUMPUR: A Batu UMNO division leader has accused Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) of working together to prevent former prime minister Najib Razak from serving the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

In a statement, Batu UMNO division chief Gulam Muszaffar alleged that the sequence of events surrounding the RM50 million fine paid by UMNO on behalf of Najib suggested a coordinated effort to delay the implementation of the former prime minister’s house arrest.

He said there had been rumours since early yesterday that UMNO would settle the RM50 million fine, which he claimed was a key precondition for Najib to receive house arrest under a royal pardon granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 18, 2026.

Gulam said the payment, collected from UMNO members and members of the public, was completed by midday and subsequently confirmed by the party’s secretary-general.

However, he claimed Anwar expressed disagreement with UMNO’s decision to pay the fine after performing Friday prayers at the Taman Kosas Mosque, which he described as an early indication that Najib’s house arrest could be delayed.

Gulam also pointed to Loke’s subsequent statement that he would resign if Najib was allowed to reach the residence designated by the Home Ministry as his house arrest location for the remainder of his sentence, which runs until Aug 23, 2028.

He said the Attorney-General’s subsequent statement, citing the need to interpret the sentence before determining the implementation of house arrest, further fuelled suspicions of a coordinated move to keep Najib in prison.

Questioning the timing of the AGC’s explanation, Gulam asked why the issue of interpretation had not been raised earlier, particularly during the Pardons Board meeting on Sept 18, which he said was attended by the attorney-general as a mandatory member.

“Beautifully orchestrated, the script involving Anwar, Anthony Loke and the Attorney-General, to ensure Bossku remains in prison,” he alleged.

Gulam claimed the sequence of events appeared to have been planned well in advance, with the developments only becoming apparent to the public yesterday.

He said the episode had also exposed who truly wielded power in Putrajaya, ending his statement with a sarcastic remark that Loke, rather than Anwar, was effectively Malaysia’s prime minister.

“Allah SWT knows best in all matters and in this entire storyline,” he said.

The statement was issued on Nov 7, 2026.