PM suggests for king to consider Najib’s house arrest bid after 1MDB trial

 

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim suggested that the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong should only consider the house arrest bid of former premier Najib Abdul Razak after the conclusion of his ongoing 1MDB trial.

Anwar emphasised that, as prime minister, he would not override the king's authority and that his recommendations would only be made if asked by the ruler.

"If the king is to ask for my advice, I would say, Your Majesty, go through the process," he said during an interview with Bloomberg at the Qatar Economic Forum yesterday.

Anwar highlighted the importance of due process, citing the previous king's partial reduction of Najib's sentences. He also advised the king to treat Najib's application like any ordinary citizen filing an appeal to the Pardons Board.

Anwar said he had given Najib all the possible prison facilities, and although it is at least comfortable, Anwar stressed that prison is not a bed of roses.

"I am an authority on the subject," he added, alluding to his own jail time.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak

In 1999, Anwar was convicted of corruption and sentenced to six years imprisonment.

He later faced another nine years in prison after being convicted of sodomy. Anwar was acquitted by the Federal Court of sodomy charges in 2004.

However, in 2015, Anwar was convicted in 2015 on sodomy charges, although later he was granted a full royal pardon and released in 2018.

Najib is facing four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.27 billion from 1MDB, a sovereign wealth fund wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOF Inc).

He filed a judicial review to compel the government to execute a purported supplementary order by the previous Agong, linked to the partial pardon that halved his jail sentence to six years and discounted his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.

‘What turmoil?’

Anwar also addressed allegations that his administration was in turmoil, particularly concerning calls for Najib's release under house arrest.

He cited the recent victory in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, in which the government's Chinese candidate defeated the opposition Malay candidate in a Malay-dominated constituency, as evidence of his government's stability.

"We won comfortably. Which means, again, do not underestimate the wisdom of the masses," he said. - Mkini