KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos said he was among the group of grassroots leaders supporting Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s assertions on the existence of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal addendum order calling for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest.
The Sg Besar Umno division chief said 10 Umno division chiefs, including himself, became firsthand witnesses after the Umno president informed them of the matter during a closed-door meeting during the recent fasting month.
“Nine other Umno division chiefs and I confirm that the statement is true because Datuk Seri Zahid himself informed us about it.
“The meeting took place at Yayasan Akalbudi before (Zahid) performed umrah pilgrimage,” he said, as quoted by MalaysiaGazette yesterday evening.
Previously, media reported Zahid as a “critical witness” supporting Najib’s claim regarding the existence of the previous YDPA’s “supplementary decree”, so the latter could complete the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
The deputy prime minister supported the claim through an affidavit filed in the Kuala Lumpur high court on April 9 to affirm the existence of the addendum order, dated January 29.
This is also when the Federal Territories Pardons Board met and decided to halve Najib’s prison sentence from 12 to six years, and reduce his RM210 million fine to RM50 million.
Najib, 70, previously filed an application for judicial review seeking to have the government and six other respondents confirm the addendum order exists – and if so, to execute the order, provide original copies of it and discuss any necessary reliefs the court deems fit.
According to Zahid, he was informed about the decree by the Investment Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz during a meeting at his residence in Country Heights, Kajang, on January 30.
Zahid said Tengku Zafrul showed him a copy of the decree on the phone of the Kota Raja Umno division chief, which was captured and scanned from the original copy.
Tengku Zafrul, however, has said he would be filing his own affidavit in response to Zahid’s to correct “factual errors”. The Attorney-General’s Chambers has also said it will raise the matter in court.
Yesterday, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi said there is no need for the government to be defensive over the royal addendum order claimed by Najib.
Puad told Scoop that Putrajaya should clear the air and see it through, judging from some of the public sentiment on the matter.
“The order is true because (Umno president) Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, even submitted an affidavit.
“The attorney-general did not issue a denial in the two months (the order was supposedly issued). Even (Tengku Zafrul) did not deny it.
“Instead of dragging on the issue, which opens up criticism against the government and ignoring a royal decree, just allow the house arrest to take place.”
Umno Veterans Club secretary Datuk Mustapha Yaakub echoed Puad, saying the government should explain the royal order to the public to avoid confusion and prejudice, especially among Najib supporters.
“Among those on the Pardons Board are Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, and law and institutional reforms minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. This means the two ministers know the real story,” he said in a statement. – April 19, 2024