KUALA LUMPUR – The government should respect and implement the addendum order for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s home imprisonment, now that two supporting affidavits have confirmed it, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi said.
The two affidavits were filed by top leaders of Umno, he noted, namely the party’s president and deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. Umno is part of the unity government.
“What is the message of the Pahang MB’s affidavit? When Wan Rosdy filed an affidavit that supported Zahid Hamidi’s affidavit, it is a strong message from Umno.
“Umno loyalists are defending Najib. Accordingly, the PMX’s government needs to commit to implementing the addendum order. Umno does not ask for things that do not exist,” Puad said on Facebook.
Puad, who is Rengit assemblyman and Batu Pahat Umno division chief, was commenting on the supporting affidavit filed by Wan Rosdy on May 21.
Similar to the supporting affidavit filed by Zahid in April, Wan Rosdy said he learned of a royal addendum order by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong dated January 29, 2024, on the house arrest from Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.
Puad said it is “very reasonable” for the government to implement the order, since it has always proclaimed its respect for the Agong.
The subject of the addendum order, however, is currently before the court as Najib has filed a judicial review to have the government confirm it, provide copies of it, and to implement it.
The court is to decide on June 5 if it will grant Najib leave to commence with the judicial review.
Wan Rosdy’s supporting affidavit had received an objection from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) after it was filed, to which Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah filed his own supporting affidavit to state the necessity of Wan Rosdy’s document.
Shafee said the filing of more affidavits should not prejudice any party as long as a decision by the court has not been issued. He also said the supplementary affidavits will ensure the court has the necessary information to render its decision.
Najib, who is serving his sentence for corruption in the SRC International case involving RM47 million, had his prison sentence halved to six years from 12 and his RM210 million fine reduced to RM50 million.
This decision by the Federal Territories Prisons Board was announced on February 2, but decided days earlier on January 29, along with the purported addendum order which was not announced.
The pardon decision was one of Sultan Abdullah of Pahang’s last official duties as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong before he completed his reign.
As to Zahid’s affidavit, Tengku Zafrul on April 17 filed his own affidavit to correct errors in Zahid’s affidavit, but it was rejected by the court on the grounds that the senator did not represent any party in Najib’s judicial review. – May 29, 2024