1MDB: Khairuddin doesn’t resent Najib over his unlawful detention

SHAH ALAM - Former Batu Kawan Umno division chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan does not resent Datuk Seri Najib Razak even though he was arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) after his revelation about the former prime minister’s involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund embezzlement scandal in 2015.

The Federal Territory Pejuang Chairman said the Federal Court’s decision to maintain the conviction of 12 years of prison and a fine of RM210 million on Najib was not the success of an individual but was a major achievement for all Malaysians in combating corruption, misuse of power and embezzlement in the country.

“Even though courts decided to sentence Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, we Muslims cannot applaud, cheer and jump for joy with the sentence given to them.

“Instead, we need to pray that they repent and return to the straight path.

“I sympathise with their fates and I pray that Najib will stay strong in facing this test and his new life in Kajang Prison,” he told Sinar Premium.

Khairuddin said that life in prison was not easy and he himself had faced it before when he was arrested under Sosma after he lodged a report to authorities in Singapore, Switzerland, France, United Kingdom, and the United States regarding the 1MDB case.

Khairuddin said he was placed in the police lockup for two weeks before being transferred to Sungai Buloh Prison for two months.

Following that, he advised the Pekan MP to be patient, persevere, read the Quran and bring himself closer to Allah to get some peace because it was not simple for a person to go through life in prison for a long duration.

“Life in prison needs a strong mental and physical strength, if not we will have difficulties continuing living there,” he said.

When asked about Very Very Important Persons (VVIP) such as Najib being given special treatment compared to a normal person in prison, Khairuddin stated the matter was not true based on his experiences and observations throughout being in Sungai Buloh Prison.

When he was in Sungai Buloh Prison, he was placed in the Medical Block, where PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was also held.

“Our cells were the same, there were no VVIP rooms and such as said.

“So the (existence of a VVIP and special services) room is just and untrue perception, we sat in a cell and did not mingle with other inmates.

“On Saturdays and Sundays they would bring television to our room but I understood Anwar did not get that facility and claims on getting a phone was far from true.

“However, we could ask family members to bring books and reading materials or borrow them from the prison library to fill up our free time,” he said.

On Aug 24, Khairuddin gained a general damages compensation of RM300,000 after the High Court allowed the same claim toward former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and seven parties involved in the wrongful arrest under Sosma.