KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib, the eldest son of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, lacks the experience to stand as a candidate for a parliamentary seat, Pekan Umno deputy chief Datuk Seri Zamri Ramly told The Star today.
Despite speculation that Mohd Nizar will most likely be named the Pekan candidate in GE15 to replace Najib, who is in jail, Zamri insisted that there was no reason to give Mohd Nizar both the state assembly and parliamentary seats as he lacks experience in politics.
"Let him have a state seat first. He needs to learn.
"If he shows that he can handle the job as a state assemblyman, then we will see about moving him up,” he was quoted saying.
Zamri also reportedly scoffed at the suggestion that any Pekan candidate would only be a placeholder for Najib.
"This seat needs an MP with great credibility. The country still needs him," he was quoted saying.
But he also said: "Should Najib be pardoned, whoever is elected to be the Pekan MP will hand the seat back to Najib, as it should be."
Najib is currently serving his 12-year jail sentence at the Kajang Prison.
He was convicted of stealing RM42 million belonging to government investment company SRC International Sdn Bhd but is applying for a review as well as seeking a royal pardon, simultaneously.
The Federal Constitution forbids those who have been convicted with a jail term of more than one year and fined more than RM2,000 and has not received a free pardon from being an elected representative.
Najib was also fined RM210 million and is still on trial for several 1MDB-related charges.
