Putrajaya has come under fire for special treatment given to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah when they visited Najib Abdul Razak at the Kajang Prison.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director Zaid Malek said such allowance for Najib and other VIP detainees was “almost unheard of”.
He said the preferential treatment conferred on the former premier was an affront to the principles of equality under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution.
“The government which is entrusted to uphold the constitution must answer as to how this was allowed.
“Other detainees and prisoners struggle to receive adequate medical attention or compassionate temporary release for the loss of loved ones.
“The treatment for ordinary detainees and prisoners is abhorrent and borders on the inhumane,” he said.
Now that a precedent has been set, Zaid urged Putrajaya to allow other prisoners and detainees visits from friends and other privileges accorded to Najib.
‘Mini feast’
Zahid told the Umno delegates assembly on Saturday that he and Shamsul brought food for Najib and the trio had breakfast for half an hour. Following this, Zahid said he spent another 90 minutes alone with Najib.
Several former inmates told Malaysiakini this was highly irregular because visits normally last between 45 to 60 minutes. Inmates and visitors are separated by a plexiglass partition and food from outside was strictly not allowed.
Earlier today, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail revealed that Zahid and Shamsul obtained special permission from Prisons Department commissioner-general Nordin Muhamad under Regulations 86 and 99 of the Prisons Regulation 2000.
Saifuddin said he was aware of the special permission granted by Nordin prior to the visit. Under Prison Regulations 2000, only the minister and the prison commissioner-general have the authority to waive certain provisions.
Meanwhile, Pejuang information chief Muhammad Rafique Rashid Ali criticised Putrajaya for allowing the visit and for Zahid to hold a jamuan mini (mini feast).
“Aren’t family members only allowed to do so during festive seasons? Isn’t it impossible for family members to salam cium (kiss the hands) because they are separated (from the inmates) through a glass?
“They even need to communicate through an intercom,” said Rafique, according to Astro Awani. - Mkini
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