Ku Li: Discussing DoJ suits not sub judice

The Umno veteran says only court cases heard locally should be barred from discussion in Parliament.

PETALING JAYA: Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah feels it is not sub judice to discuss the US’ Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuits over 1MDB.

He said only cases heard in Malaysian courts should be declared sub judice for discussion in Parliament, he told Star Online.

“This (DoJ case) is heard outside of Malaysia, so I don’t think it applies, from my little knowledge of law,” Razaleigh told reporters at Parliament lobby.

“If the matter is before our courts, yes then of course (it can be declared sub judice). If other things, you can raise them in Parliament.

“But if it is heard somewhere in Timbuktu, don’t think you can stop (anyone) from raising it because it doesn’t interfere,” the news portal quoted him as saying.

Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had declared matters relating to DOJ to be sub judice and not to be discussed in Parliament.

The DoJ filed civil lawsuits in July seeking to seize dozens of properties linked to 1MDB, saying RM4 billion was allegedly misappropriated. It intends to return these “stolen assets” to the Malaysian people, it stated.