Don't meddle in AG's affairs, legal and judicial officers tell Bar

The Judicial and Legal Service Officers' Association (Jalsoa) has passed a motion to reject "meddling or pressure by anyone including the Malaysian Bar" in the affairs of the Attorney-General's Chambers.

The motion was passed unanimously at Jalsoa's extraordinary general meeting today, it said in a statement.

This comes after the Bar at its annual general assembly (AGM) on March 19 passed a motion calling for attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's resignation, for failure to prosecute Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak after more than RM2 billion were found in his bank accounts.

Jalsoa said the Bar has no right to pressure the AG on the matter.

"All parties should respect the position of the AG's independence as stated in the federal constitution, and his role to uphold the constitution, justice and law to protect national interests," it said.

This comes as police summon four lawyers, including the Bar secretary, over the motion against the AG at the Bar AGM.

Apandi said Najib did not commit any wrongdoing, and received a RM2.6 billion donation from a Saudi royal family.

He also cleared Najib of corruption over the RM42 million deposited into the prime minister's account from state-owned SRC International.

The AG said Najib returned RM2.03 billion of the donation.

Reports by the Wall Street Journal, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Sarawak Report to date shows that a total US$1.05 billion was purportedly deposited into Najib's bank account from various parties between 2011 to 2014.

They are from:

• The Saudi Ministry of Finance (US$80 million);
• Saudi prince Faisal bin Turki bin Bandar alSaud (US$75 million);
• British Virgin-island incorporated firms Blackstone Real Estate Partner Ltd (US$120 million) and Tanore Finance (US$681 million); and
• Malaysian Finance Ministry-owned firm SRC International (RM32 million).

This works out to RM4.20 billion, according to March 29 exchange rate of US$1 = RM4.

This, however, may not include pledges made by another Saudi prince, Saud Abdulaziz Majid al Saud.

In a letter published by the ABC, Prince Saud Abdulaziz Majid pledged US$375 million with no strings attached, purportedly in recognition of Najib's work promoting a moderate Islam to the world.

Prince Saud Abdulaziz Majid said he would remit the funds to Najib using his personal bank account or company bank accounts, including Blackstone Asia Real Estate. -Mkini