Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz’s failure to obtain leave to file an affidavit in Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest bid raises various questions and concerns about the government’s integrity and the Malay rulers’ institution, says PAS.
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the matter was compounded by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s irresolute stance on the issue involving an alleged “addendum order” issued by former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah in January as well as Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s affidavit confirming the document’s existence.
“Without referring to the grounds of judgment in the denial of the application, PAS believes that the contradiction of facts between two ministers in the same government - that has to be ‘fixed’ via a court action - paints a bad picture of the government and exposes its attitude toward a decree by the Agong.
“The matter is made worse by several statements by the prime minister, who seems to want to ‘wash his hands off’ the matter by making flip-flopping statements on the matter,” Takiyuddin said in a statement today.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday denied Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Zafrul’s application to correct purported factual inaccuracies in Zahid’s affidavit in support of former prime minister Najib’s judicial review to serve his remaining jail sentence at home.
In making the judgment, judge Amarjeet Singh said Zafrul could apply again if it grants leave to Najib on June 5 to commence with the house arrest judicial review.
‘Zahid’s affidavit improper’
Commenting further, Takiyuddin said Zahid’s affidavit to support Najib’s bid was also “improper and weird” from various aspects.
“As a cabinet member, his (Zahid’s) act surely drags the government into a leadership and constitutional crisis.
“This is because it (the affidavit) clearly rejects the government’s decision, especially when Zahid claimed that there are other government leaders who knew the existence of the alleged addendum - which was denied by other cabinet members.
“Also, as a party leader (Zahid is also Umno president), PAS is also surprised why Zahid had to wait until April 9 to file the affidavit, when he claimed that Zafrul had informed him of the addendum order dated Jan 29 during a meeting at his (Zahid’s) house at Country Heights, Selangor.
“PAS believes the government should explain the matter and take responsibility to fix the situation as the bets are huge in this issue.
“It not only concerns an individual’s (Najib’s) welfare but also the benefit of the country and the rakyat,” said Takiyuddin.
Judicial review
Najib is seeking leave to commence a judicial review to implement an alleged addendum by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong linked to the partial pardon that halved his jail sentence to six years and discounted his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
According to Najib’s affidavit in support of his judicial review, the former Pekan MP claimed that the king’s main royal order allowing the partial pardon was accompanied by a supplementary royal order containing the house arrest provision.
The former Umno president is seeking a court order to compel the home minister, the attorney-general, the Pardons Board, the federal government, and a few other respondents to confirm this alleged addendum in the partial pardon.
On March 4, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail assured that Najib is not on the list of prisoners who will be serving time under home detention.
The minister told Malaysiakini that only prisoners serving fewer than four years of jail time, senior citizens, pregnant women, and people with disabilities will be on the home detention list. - Mkini
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