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Najib's DNAA another step in his political rehabilitation, says political analyst
Chin believes the DNAA in Najib's final criminal case involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM27 million marks another step in his ongoing political rehabilitation.
MIRI (June 21): The discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) granted to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came as no surprise, said political analyst Prof Dr James Chin.
The professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania believes the DNAA in Najib's final criminal case involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds amounting to RM27 million marks another step in his ongoing political rehabilitation.
'A lot of people who have been following this case are clearly not surprised he got a DNAA. The simple reason is the prosecutors have failed to move the case along for the past six years,' he told The Borneo Post when contacted.
Chin said public perception of the decision is far more damning, with many interpreting the DNAA as a sign that Najib's rehabilitation is well underway and that the spirit of 'reformasi' (reformation) under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim 'is dead'.
He also questioned Anwar's role in the court outcome, saying the public had expected the Parti Keadilan Rakyat president to push through with the prosecution when he took over the helm as Prime Minister in 2022.
'The fact that he has done nothing and allowed this DNAA to move forward, for many people at least, they think there is a political deal and that Najib's political rehabilitation has begun,' he said.
He further warned that this latest development could spell trouble for the Unity Government, particularly among Anwar's reform-minded supporters.
'This is a really bad omen for Anwar's government and it puts a lot of people who support him in a difficult position. They support him because they want the reforms, and rather than getting 'reformasi', they get 'reformati'.'
'Reformati' is a derogatory wordplay on Pakatan Harapan's 'reformasi' slogan, meant to suggest the agenda for reform is now dead, or 'mati'.
Chin also noted that the DNAA could pave the way for Najib's return to frontline politics – depending on the outcome of GE17.
On Friday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted Najib a DNAA in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case, with Judge K. Muniandy noted that the trial had stalled since 2019 with not a single witness being called to testify.
The judge delivered the decision during a hearing on whether to set new trial dates or grant a DNAA, as previously applied by the defence.
Judge Muniandy said the rule of law was applicable to prevent such a detrimental situation whereby an accused person is saddled with criminal charges with no outcome for an indefinite and indeterminate period. dnaa james chin lead Najib
