Threat of Najib pardon gives Malaysian coalition new battle cry in Johor poll

Malaysia’s Barisan Nasional (BN), the dominant political coalition in Johor, might have expected to cruise to an easy victory come Saturday when the southern state goes to the polls – until a single remark from the son of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak suddenly gave its rivals political ammunition. On July 3, Nazifuddin Najib, who heads BN in Langkawi, suggested that a strong showing by the coalition would validate calls for his father’s pardon. “If we win big, it will send a signal that [Johor voters] still cherish Bossku and hope that Bossku can be with the people,” he told reporters on July 2, using the nickname Najib’s supporters gave him, meaning “my boss”. Najib was convicted of seven charges of