SHAH ALAM - Former Umno youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar has suggested that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be released to strengthen the Unity Government.
He said that if Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi can be released from the 47 charges he's facing, it means that the former Umno president also has hopes of being freed from prison and other charges.
"To go the whole hog, just do it. Since you're releasing Zahid, just release Najib as well; at least he can add value to Barisan Nasional (BN)-Pakatan Harapan (PH).
"Compare 'Bossku' (Najib) to Zahid; the person who can add value to control the 'green wave' is Najib.
"What can Zahid do? He has no added value.
"If you want a kitchen sink,' put a kitchen sink in everything, release Najib, and he will bring more value to you.
"You have already buried everything that will be good for Malaysia; you might as well give Najib pardon," he said in the Keluar Sekejap (KS) podcast with former Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan today.
Shahril Sufian also agreed with the proposal, stating that this release is not impossible from a 'realpolitik' perspective.
"Bossku's supporters will undoubtedly say, 'Zahid is free, but what about Bossku?' "I don't think that question can be contained anymore.
"How long will it take for this matter to cause tension within Umno to the point where Zahid is attacked by Bossku's supporters?" he added.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence after being found guilty in a corruption case involving RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.