PKR’s Hang Tuah Jaya MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin has called on the government to respond to rumours of preferential treatment toward former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
In his statement today, Shamsul urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Home Affairs Minister Hamzah Zainudin, and Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin in particular to address such rumours.
“Is Najib Razak - a prisoner who should be serving his sentence in Kajang Prison - still being treated like a VIP - with all his wishes and desires obeyed? All the money allocated for Najib's comfort is from the rakyat’s money.
“The rakyat wants to see a prisoner serve a fitting punishment for the crimes that Najib has committed, instead of using the rakyat’s money once again to indulge Najib who should be in prison,” he said.
Shamsul (above) further urged the Attorney General’s Chambers to investigate and get an explanation from the Prison Department on whether Najib is carrying out his sentence seriously.
Additionally, he called on the rakyat not to be fooled so easily.
“Every offender should serve the punishment as prescribed.
“Don’t let the people count how many days Najib actually served his sentence in Kajang Prison and how many days he spent relaxing on a soft bed in a hospital room that was modified to satisfy his desire for luxury,” said Shamsul.
This morning, the Prison Department in a statement confirmed rumours that Najib was sent to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) in Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur for treatment.
The department said this was done in line with the Prison Act and the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules).
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said, however, he could not reveal details on Najib’s medical condition due to his ministry’s patient privacy protocol.
According to the minister, Najib was transferred to the CRH because he required physiotherapy.
He stressed that the former prime minister, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, has not been accorded special treatment.
Don’t politicise Najib’s treatment
Separately, former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad today called for the former prime minister’s medical treatment not to be “politicised”.
“His rights as a patient to be treated with care, consideration, respect, and dignity must be respected and honoured.
“The healthcare professionals must continually strive without fear or favour, to ensure he gets diagnosed accurately and promptly, and the right and appropriate course of management instituted, such as physiotherapy, as echoed by the health minister at his latest press conference.
“It must not be ‘politicised’ by all the earlier mentioned interested parties, all of whom unfortunately have a conflict of interest in his health issues,” he said in a statement.
Dzulkefly noted it is “very difficult” to verify rumours on social media about Najib’s health.
“Undoubtedly, the healthcare team will be under immense pressure from all quarters, the minister, the Health Ministry director-general and their immediate bosses, the family, politicians, other VVIPs, and not forgetting the rakyat.
“Notwithstanding, the healthcare team - confronted with the spectrum of ‘health issues’ - should conduct themselves professionally and ethically, as per their Hippocratic oath,” he said.
Najib has been in and out of hospital after being sent to jail late last month.
Two weeks ago, he was sent to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) over stomach ulcers - which his family claims were stress induced.
He was later discharged but was re-admitted to HKL last week after he fell ill again due to blood pressure issues.
Following this, allegations emerged yesterday that Najib - codenamed “merpati” (pigeon) - would be sent to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) so that he can have more access to visitors, among other privileges.
There were also allegations that Najib’s cell at the Kajang Prison in Selangor, was renovated. - Mkin
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