UMNO secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has been challenged on social media to defend the party’s fundraising drive for Datuk Seri Najib Razak, following a Universiti Malaya student’s criticism of the campaign.
The question surfaced after student Ummi Umairah Bakhit described public donations to help the former prime minister pay his RM50 million fine as one of the “stupidest” things she had witnessed.
In a Threads post, user huzwhose tagged Asyraf, asked whether he agreed with her assessment.
The post had attracted more than 3,600 likes and 424 comments, according to a screenshot shared online.
Several users backed the criticism, with one saying the money would be better spent helping family members, friends in need and the underprivileged.
“There is no need to ask @drasyrafwajdi. I can answer that for you. A big YES!” user anya12_hindmarch wrote.
Another user, eddydaud, who identified himself as 65, also criticised efforts to raise funds to help Najib obtain house arrest.
User chippychipssss, however, called on Asyraf to respond directly.
“Please answer. We want to hear @drasyrafwajdi’s response,” the user wrote.
Umno launched the Tabung Solidariti Najib Razak on Sept 18 to help the former prime minister pay his RM50 million fine.
The fine is among the conditions attached to the conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The screenshot did not show a reply from Asyraf, although it does not establish whether he responded elsewhere or at a later time.
The debate over the fund intensified after Ummi questioned the campaign during a dialogue session attended by former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Student threatened to be slapped
Her remarks drew widespread attention, but the reaction also took a more troubling turn when a Threads user threatened to slap her if they met in person, while questioning the manners of university students today.
The threat drew criticism from users who said disagreements over political issues should be settled through argument rather than intimidation.
One user accused those unable to counter Ummi’s views of resorting to threats.
“Are you upset because someone is telling the truth? If you cannot counter her arguments, you resort to threats. This is what politicians who plunder public money want,” the user wrote.
Another urged the public to encourage people to speak honestly, even when their views were uncomfortable to hear, warning against a culture of sycophancy.
Some users also urged Ummi to lodge a police report over the threat.
The controversy has put both the fundraising campaign and the response to criticism under scrutiny.
While the question directed at Asyraf concerns the rationale behind a fund organised by his party, the threat against Ummi has raised separate concerns about the treatment of students who challenge political leaders.
Those who disagree with Ummi’s views are free to make their case. But the debate over whether the public should help Najib pay his fine should be settled on its merits, not through threats against those who question it. – October 17, 2026