MALAYSIA — Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister will not be allowed to issue any statement from behind bars as with other prison inmates serving their sentence, said the Malaysia Prisons Department.

Najib who lost his final appeal against his conviction of seven graft charges involving ex-1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd at the Federal Court, is currently serving a 12-years prison sentence.

Although Najib has been in jail since 23 August, his social media fanpage is still actively updated with posts and comments on current issues, including reposting opinions and propaganda from his Barisan National colleagues, or mocking his opponents from opposition parties, for example, former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Mahathir.

When asked by Malaysian media whether Najib is allowed to issue any statement regarding Malaysia’s 15th General Election (GE15), Supri Hashim, Prisons Department Director of Prisons Policy, confirmed that no prison inmate serving their sentence is allowed to issue any statement, and no exception has been granted for Najib.

Supri Hashim said even letters or documents from inmates to their families would be screened by the prison department before they can be sent out.

Supri Hashim also said that the Prisons Department is only interested in carrying out its duty and has nothing to do with politics regardless of which government is in administration.

Prisons Director-General Datuk Nordin Muhammad had also stressed that Najib is subject to the Malaysia Prison Act and will not be allowed to go out to campaign for GE15, as long as he is still serving his sentence.

Najib was the former Member of Parliament for Pekan, Pahang. Pekan’s UMNO division had earlier said that it will stick to naming Najib as a potential candidate for the Pekan parliamentary seat in GE15. Najib has also filed for a review to overturn his conviction and has also sought a royal pardon. It is unsure if Najib will have his royal pardon in time as the nomination date for GE15 is set on 5 November.

Nordin Muhammad also refuted the rumour claiming Najib receives special treatment in the prison, “We provide the same treatment to all inmates, there is no such term as favouritism among prisoners here, “ he said.

Najib’s official Facebook page, with 4.6 million followers, is a significant voice for United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Barisan National. Although BN lost in GE 14 and Najib’s 1MDB scandal, with help from supporters and cyber troopers, along with his unique charisma, Najib has been raised as a social media superstar “Bossku” in Malaysia.

Najib’s posts are mostly sarcastic and targeted at “trolling” his opponents.

One of his posts published today made fun of Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Harapan’s Prime Minister candidate for running out of ideas for “recycling” outdated manifesto, which Anwar vowed to cut his salary if he becomes PM.

Although Prisons Department has said that Najib is not allowed to release any statement on GE15, his social media page is still actively commenting on Malaysian political issues. A check on the official page’s transparency shows that it is run by at least nine admins located in Malaysia, with no ads running.

Najib has filed an application to attend the Parliament sitting as a Member of Parliament but was rejected by Prisons Department. Although he went to challenge this decision in the High Court, this is irrelevant now as the Malaysia Parliament has already dissolved on 10 October.

Najib was found guilty on 28 July 2020 of seven charges of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and abuse of power over the transfer of RM 42 million from SRC International to his personal bank account.

On 23 August, a five-member Federal Court panel upheld Najib’s conviction and his prison sentence of 12 years and a fine of RM210 million. As Najib has exhausted his legal avenues for appeals, he was sent to prison immediately after the verdict was delivered.