KUALA LUMPUR, October 30 – DAP secretary-general and Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook has dismissed former prime minister Najib Razak’s recent apology over the 1MDB scandal, stating that the apology holds no bearing on Najib’s conviction. “It’s not a question of accepting any apology. With or without the apology, a crime is a crime,” Loke said during an event in Kuala Lumpur, adding that Najib’s conviction had been upheld by the highest court, making the apology “irrelevant.”
Loke also clarified that the government’s proposed house arrest bill is focused on prison reforms, unrelated to Najib’s case, and would exclude serious crimes. Najib’s recent apology, made after 26 months of reflection in prison, expressed regret for the scandal’s occurrence during his tenure, though he maintains his innocence and denies involvement with fugitive financier Jho Low.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim responded to Najib’s apology in a measured tone, saying he welcomed it in good faith, as any leader would. The High Court is set to determine on Wednesday if Najib will need to present his defense in the ongoing 1MDB corruption case, which began five years ago.
