UMNO is exploring every means possible to ensure its former leader Najib Razak is reunited with his family, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed.

Zahid said there were still some avenues that could be considered despite challenges and obstacles faced in the party’s attempt to release the former prime minister, who is serving a jail sentence for corruption.

Zahid said the legal process was not the only means of helping return Najib to his family; he added that the law had its hurdles.

“But there are other ways and I am confident we will find the best way,” he told members of ‘Kelab Sahabat Najib’ at its annual meeting Sunday. The AGM was also attended by Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor and their children, Norashman and Nooryana Najwa.

However, Zahid did not elaborate on the other avenues that the party was exploring, saying that he did not wish to reveal them as there were “too many reporters” present. “Not many people know everything that I did (in terms of trying to get Najib released from prison), only Rosmah does,” he added.

Zahid, who is the deputy prime minister, urged Najib’s supporters not to give up hope and to continue working towards ensuring his freedom.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million by the Federal Court over the 1MDB scandal. On Feb 2, the Federal Territories Pardons Board halved Najib’s prison sentence to six years and reduced his fine to RM50 million.

Najib, 70, is currently serving his sentence at Kajang prison and is scheduled to be released on Aug 23, 2028.

Last month, Najib filed an application at the High Court to compel the government to produce a purported “supplementary decree” from the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong which allows him to serve his sentence under house arrest.

He is currently on trial on other corruption charges.