KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 23 — The silence is deafening among Umno members as their former party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sentenced to 12 years in jail for misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

Reactions to the verdict on social media have been slim to none, with only several members of the Umno fraternity so far commenting on the judgment.

In a tweet, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan recalled how it was Najib who first selected him to be a member of Cabinet, while expressing hope that the case would continue to be reviewed.

"He is the son of a prime minister, and he chose me, a son of a rubber tapper, to be a deputy minister, and I will not forget this.

"The case will continue to be reviewed. The people are also judging. I hope that he (Najib) and his family will continue to be strong,” he tweeted.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid also expressed his sympathy towards Najib and his family.

He said regardless of the Federal Court’s decision, his contribution to both the country and Umno cannot be denied.

"I personally feel very sympathetic towards Datuk Seri Mohd@Najib Razak and all his family members. As a comrade-in-arms in Umno, no matter what happens, his service and devotion to Umno and the country before this, cannot be denied at all.

At the same time, he also chided the Federal Court, saying that the phrase "justice hurried is justice buried” would fit well in this case.

Newly appointed Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil asked God to give Najib strength to go through this difficult time in his life, asking the rakyat to deliver prayers for the former prime minister too.

"May Allah SWT give strength to Datuk Seri Najib in facing these trials and tribulations.

"Let’s all pray to Allah SWT. The prayer of the oppressed goes straight to God,” he said in a Facebook posting.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that it was near-impossible to hide his sadness over the Federal Court’s decision, but said it was one that the masses must accept.

"For Najib’s family, endure, be patient with the trials that befell us today. We may have lost and feel that justice is not on our side today, but there will be ‘a bigger court’ in front of Allah SWT later.

"What is important is that the struggle must continue, as per Datuk Seri Najib’s final mandate to all of us, for the benefit of the rakyat and nation,” he said.

Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan shared that no matter the outcome of Najib’s case, it will never erase Najib’s services and achievements to the country and party he once led.

"As an Umno member, we are saddened by what has happened, especially to a leader who has given a lot of service to the country and Umno.

"I’m sure this is a situation that doesn’t reflect the challenges and pains of Datuk Seri Najib. I pray that he and his family will be given all the strength to face this great test,” he said.

Earlier today, Najib failed in his final appeal against the High Court’s guilty conviction over the SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case.

The decision marks a historic moment for Malaysian politics as the country will witness for the first time a former prime minister head to jail.

Today’s decision also means that Najib is automatically disqualified from his seat as the Member of Parliament for Pekan under Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution.

The Court of Appeal had on December 8, 2021 upheld the High Court’s July 2020 verdict and sentence of 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million meted against Najib.

Najib had been found guilty of one count of abuse of power, three counts of criminal breach of trust, and three counts of money laundering.