Nik Abduh sparks controversy over Najib Razak fine payments

Senator Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz has ignited debate after stating that Muslims helping to pay the RM50 million fine for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is a meritorious act. In a Facebook post, Nik Abduh argued that such contributions do not constitute support for corruption, but rather support for the royal pardon system sanctioned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He further clarified that merit is not limited to monetary donations, but includes any effort to assist Najib in obtaining his legally permitted rights. The RM50 million fine was a condition of the conditional pardon granted by Sultan Ibrahim on September 18, which allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his SRC International case sentence via house arrest until August 2028.

His comments have faced criticism on social media. Some users questioned how such actions align with the Islamic struggle against corruption and the protection of public funds, noting that the fine is linked to convictions for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.