COMMENT | Imagine for a moment that a person has been tried and convicted of rape. And he has a plethora of other rape cases pending, some even more severe and serious than the one for which he was found guilty.

Despite overwhelming evidence against him, the rapist maintains his innocence and despite the conviction, denies the crime and takes a vow in the mosque that he did not do it. But the rapist was the former prime minister and remains a strong political figure.

Does he deserve to be pardoned or have a pardon considered? Almost everyone will say no.

Yet for an offence of the theft and laundering of RM42 million by abusing his power and trials ongoing of charges involving RM2.3 billion - over 50 times the original RM42 million - key Umno leaders and some members of Umno would like to see him pardoned.

What kind of madness is that? What would cause otherwise normal people to campaign for such an insane move by the king, who is constrained by the recommendations of the Pardons Board in his decisions?

The only reason for this demonstration of mass insanity over the weekend is self-interest. The corrupt are asking for the most corrupt person ever to walk in Malaysia to be freed so that he and they can continue in their nefarious ways, milking the nation and its people of billions yearly.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi shed tears last weekend ostensibly for Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor and children. But it is for himself that he is weeping, facing multiple charges of money laundering and criminal breach of trust, just like...