PUTRAJAYA: Hundreds of people have gathered on the sidewalks and side roads near the Palace of Justice here early today to show solidarity with convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
While most of the crowd are dressed in casual attire, some are dressed in red T-shirts emblazoned with “Justice for Bossku” and Najib's name.
As a convoy of police cars, including the one transporting the former leader to the Court of Appeal for his hearing, come into view, the supporters start chanting “Bossku”.
Security here has been heightened as early as 6am, with the first roadblock set up at the exit of Jalan Sentosa, directing traffic away from Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman.
The roadblocks were put in place to prevent the entry of weapons, banners, or signs that contained offensive or inciting messages related to the rally.
Police patrol cars are also making the rounds, and officers are stationed at key points leading to the court complex.
Authorities are on high alert after PAS and Islamic groups like Ummah and Perkasa insisted on proceeding with a planned solidarity originally called by Najib’s party, Umno, here today as the 71-year-old appeals against the dismissal of his bid to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest.
On January 3, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced the party’s cancellation of the Najib solidarity gathering following a statement from Istana Negara clarifying that applications for pardons or sentence reductions must be submitted by the prisoner themselves to the Pardons Board, chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
