The Malaysian Insight

ACTRESS Ellie Suriati Omar stood out from the crowd of Najib Razak supporters when the former prime minister was hauled to court on July 4 to be charged with graft and abuse of power.

Ellie, who was one of the loudest supporters present that day, believes that Najib is a righteous Muslim leader who had become a victim of slander.

Najib and the Barisan Nasional coalition fell from power due to losing the “perception war”, she told The Malaysian Insight.

“After BN lost the elections, I looked for the cause. I know about the anti-Najib campaign. To topple a government, you must topple its leader.

“So here I saw a Muslim leader who cared about the people, an expert in the economy, toppled by his rivals who used slander.

“That was cruel, and it is a loss to the nation.”

On the day Najib was charged with criminal breach of trust and misusing his position in relation to SRC International’s RM42 million transfer scandal, Ellie was among the Umno members who caused a ruckus at the court complex.

They heckled Attorney-General Tommy Thomas for using English when he addressed the media, forcing him to move the press conference to another floor.

Ellie, who directed the film Penanggal, refuted rumours that she is supporting Najib because she had been bribed by the former Umno leader.

“I didn’t get any aid or ‘dedak’ (bribe) from BN. I joined Umno after the May 9 general election. I was thinking about Islam, our race and the country. I never got BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid) or anything.

“I am not like others, who will apply for handouts and allocations. Nothing wrong about that if the government is offering, but I am not like that,” said the Ampang Umno branch member.

Ellie said she started to admire Najib when she saw how he had given aid to the less fortunate.

“Why can’t I give him my support? People hated him, but he still gave them BR1M.

“He gave fishermen RM300 every month. The imam, tok siak (mosque caretakers) got it, too.

“The JKKK (village security and development committees) also received salaries.”

She said there is nothing wrong with Najib and his family leading luxurious lifestyles, as the former prime minister “comes from nobility” and is “rich to begin with”.

Shortly after the 14th general election, the authorities raided Najib’s home and other properties linked to him, and seized cash and luxury assets, like handbags and jewellery, worth up to RM1.1 billion.

Ellie described Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, who has been criticised for having a penchant for jewellery and luxury handbags, as just a regular “auntie”.

“I met her at a function and she is just like that, like before,” said the actress, who is also a member of Malay rights group Bangkit. – July 14, 2018.