Zahid said he would do all he can to help Najib as he was among the closest to the former prime minister and former Umno president. He also said he was one who appreciated Najib’s contributions.

“So please don’t keep asking me what I plan to do (to help Najib). I know what to do, just have faith in me. Don’t be pushy,” he said when opening the Selayang Umno divisional meeting today.

Zahid’s plea comes a day after Umno urged the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to allow Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, following the attorney-general’s confirmation of a royal addendum authorising such an arrangement.

The Federal Court was told on July 9 that Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar had confirmed the existence of the addendum a week earlier, but was disputing whether it was genuine and valid.

The addendum was to a decision by the Federal Territories Pardons Board in early February last year to cut Najib’s 12-year jail term by half, and reduced a RM210 million fine to RM50 million.