House arrest delay will disrespect royal order, says Asyraf

 The Umno secretary-general questions the need for a delay as the fine had been paid, and says everyone should respect the king’s constitutional powers.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said there was no need to delay Najib Razak’s house arrest now that the RM50 million fine had been paid. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Any effort to delay the implementation of the conditional pardon granted to Najib Razak amounts to disrespect of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s order, says Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

He questioned the need to defer the house arrest, given that the RM50 million fine had been paid, and called on all parties to respect the king’s powers under the Federal Constitution.

Asyraf said the king had made a decision through the Federal Territories Pardons Board and set the conditions, which have since been fulfilled.

“What need is there to delay the house arrest now that the fine has been settled?” he asked in a brief Facebook post today soon after the Attorney-General’s Chambers called for Najib to remain in prison and the house arrest deferred pending a review of the conditional pardon and the Order of Discharge.

It said “complex legal questions” had arisen, with implications for the implementation of the pardon and court order.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur had issued the discharge order after Umno paid a RM50 million fine imposed on Najib; the order directs Najib’s immediate release and stipulates that he serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ jail in August 2022 for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds. A royal pardon in January 2024 halved his prison sentence and reduced his fine to RM50 million. In September this year, he was granted a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028. - FMT