Every UMNO member has been urged to contribute RM50 towards the party’s RM50 million fundraising drive to help former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak pay his fine.
Former UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the RM50 million target could be reached if one million of the party’s more than three million members contributed RM50 each.
He said the proposal was in line with UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s call for the party to raise funds to help Najib settle the fine.
“I support Zahid’s suggestion that UMNO organise a fundraising drive to pay the RM50 million fine that Najib has to pay.
“Although I am no longer an UMNO member, Insya-Allah, I will certainly make a contribution.
“Since UMNO has more than three million members, it would be good if one million members contributed RM50 each. RM50 million would easily be collected,” he said in a post on his official Facebook page on Thursday.
UMNO had earlier launched a fundraising initiative to help ease Najib’s financial burden in paying the RM50 million fine imposed in connection with the remainder of his sentence, which he is allowed to serve under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.
Ahmad Zahid said the party hoped its leaders, members, supporters and others who wished to show their support would contribute voluntarily.
Meanwhile, Mohd Puad, who is also a former Johor state assembly speaker, said he maintained his view that Najib was a victim of political revenge by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“I remain convinced that Najib is a victim of Mahathir’s political revenge,” he said.
He added, jokingly, that he hoped his views would not be seen as interference in the matter.
“I hope I won’t be labelled a busybody,” he said.
