As an ordinary Malaysian without much knowledge in legal affairs of the law, I would like to paint a different picture than the obvious anxious ones of most of my brethren Malaysian.

As I understand it, most Malaysians are vexed, worried and disgusted that Umno, as part of the Unity Government, is supporting the request to pardon Najib.

As usual, Malaysians and some civil society personalities, seemingly with a high moral stand but of questionable sense in Malay politics, are up in arms and are quick to condemn Anwar and the Unity Government.

The narrative is that either Umno is leveraging on their loyalty to Anwar or that this was part of a devious act of quid pro quo by Anwar in agreeing to lead a PH-Umno alliance.

I am amazed and amused by such narratives thought up by Malaysians. I am undisturbed and unafraid of the Najib pardon issue. I will explain why.

Firstly, I understand that Najib’s family is looking for any and all excuses to get the pardon for Najib as all other avenues are shut.

 I am a bit unclear on Najib’s family with respect to the other charges that are yet to be in court. Nevertheless, Najib’s family is using the single dissenting judgment in the SRC review request case and a letter by the director of the MACC conducting investigation without due process of informing the Chief Judge.

Azalina Othman, as I understood it, merely affirmed what was written in the letter that no one knows how such a confidential correspondence got to the hand of Najib’s daughter.

With an MACC and a civil service which has very little credibility among Malaysians, I am not surprised.

What is my take of the Najib pardon affair?

Malaysians must understand that, to me, Zahid is not the one controlling these events.

As I understand, forces against Zahid and the Unity Government have pushed to support the bid by Najib’s family.

Their aim is to discredit both Zahid and Anwar with this tactic.

There are only two scenarios if the Najib pardon goes through the process; either it is granted or rejected by YDP Agong. In either scenario Anwar and Zahid will be seen as weak or as losers.

Forces against Zahid and the unity government have pushed to support the bid by Najib’s family. Their aim is to discredit both Zahid and Anwar with the tactic.

My take is that YDP Agong can be trusted by Malaysians to make his own decision with the advice and recommendation of the Pardon’s Board.

I have known this Agong and his steel resolve in dealing with incompetent and childish Malay politics like a father who will always act in the best interest of the larger family.

I have 100% confidence in YDP Agong and Malaysians should not be vexed or anxious.

Relax-lah and drink some teh tarik!

If Najib’s pardon is rejected, we will hear enemies within Umno and PN attacking Anwar and Zahid for being weak.

And this, my Malaysian brethren, is the real agenda.

Najib is being used to discredit the Anwar-Zahid combo which is trying very hard to triumph over extremism, selfishness and bigotry of PAS and Bersatu.

If I were chairing the Pardons Board, why would I grant the pardon? There is absolutely no grounds at all.

The dissenting judgement, to me, is very funny for a learned judge because everyone knows that the sudden change in lawyers is a ruse to buy more time.

Secondly, what is the point of pardoning Najib when he still has many other charges to be tried? What if he were found guilty, another pardon then? It makes no sense to me!

On the grounds of compassion and clemency, Anwar Ibrahim was incarcerated without bail for more than a decade, and his trial was so full of nonsense and stupid evidences that boggle the mind of a decent and fairly educated Malaysian.

Najib’s trial was clear and the evidence was solid and it took almost four years with him still makan nasi goreng, smiling at selfies, and even going overseas!

So Malaysians, don’t worry, this is not about Najib but about destroying Anwar and Zahid and ultimately our precious Unity Government.

We are all in uncharted waters and must have faith in Anwar and YDP Agong to do what needs to be done.

or our part, do not fill our minds with worst-case scenarios and drive us to an early heart attack.

It’s just Malay politics. There will be many more Malay politic games to come!

Let Najib’s family play into the hands of the real puppet masters, and we should just sit back and enjoy the show.

(Prof Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at a local university and his writing reflects his own personal opinion entirely.)