KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed in Dewan Rakyat today that he has raised the issue of the alleged royal addendum, purportedly signed by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, which ordered imprisoned former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be transferred from prison to house arrest, with the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
Anwar (Tambun-PH), said that he reached out to the King given that the issue has been continuously raised.
“I have presented (the matter) for the due consideration of the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be raised at a (Federal Territories) Pardons Board’s meeting that will be chaired by His Majesty at the time deemed suitable.
“The matter was also briefly discussed with His Majesty at Johor Bahru yesterday as His Majesty wanted to know the latest developments (of the issue). We leave it to His Majesty to raise (this matter) in a Pardons Board meeting and to make the due consideration,” said Anwar.
Additionally, the prime minister also said that the issue was raised to Sultan Ibrahim as he believes everyone has the right to be subjected to the King’s due consideration on how the court punishments were meted out based on the King’s “fountain of mercy”.
He also said that the King would look into the various aspects such as the case’s chronology, the meted-out punishment, the individual’s behaviour in prison, their past contributions, and “the belief that they will carry out their responsibilities diligently”.
Anwar was responding to supplementary questions posed by Datuk Seri Sh Mohmed Puzi bin Sh Ali (Pekan-BN) during the Prime Minister’s Question Time (PMQT), who asked about actions Putrajaya would take to end disputes and speculations arising from the addendum issue, and whether the prime minister was planning to reach out to Pahang’s Sultan Abdullah, who was the YDPA before Sultan Ibrahim, to resolve the issue.
The addendum issue gained steam recently, after Najib’s son, Datuk Nizar Najib reportedly submitted the alleged royal addendum that was signed by the former king to the court as part of an affidavit.
Yesterday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) announced that the Court of Appeal will hear Najib’s appeal regarding his house arrest bid on January 6.
Don’t you understand the law, PM asks Takiyuddin
During the PMQT, Anwar also rapped Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN), for not understanding the law despite being a practising lawyer, when pressed by the latter on why the government “did not tell the truth or being honest” on the existence of the addendum.
The PAS MP said that the government’s action would be seen as “going against the king’s decree”, and raised a legal issue of “wrongful imprisonment” against Najib.
“Does this lawyer understand law (when he said that)? I can’t (comment on the issue that is under court consideration)? Even if I (was given) the choice to answer, I can’t answer it out of respect to the court.
“Dont you understand it? Are you trying to seek cheap political stunts and being a hypocrite?
“All of a sudden you have become Datuk Seri’s (Najib) champion (despite the fact) that I have heard your fiery condemnation of Najib repeatedly,” said Anwar angrily.
He also asserted that as a prime minister, he could not comment on the decision made by the King in the Pardons Board.
However, Anwar said that he would explain this addendum issue at the Lower House after the court case is over. – December 10, 2024