Kuala Lampur, Jan. 9 -- A strange group of leaders congregated for a former prime minister four days ago.

January 6, the first day of a full working week in 2025 witnessed a collection of men and women - as many as 3,000 - mill outside Putrajaya's courthouses. There to support ex-prime minister Najib Razak, who seeks to convert his remaining prison sentence, notionally to be served until August 2028, into a house arrest.

It was meant to be a large protest, but fizzled to only a noticeable gathering due to police objections. Indeed, those who did attend face possible legal action.

The numbers do not matter as much as the estranged group of leaders rounded up for a yet to be determined ethnic agenda wrapped around Najib's pardon. It vari...