Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has called on cabinet ministers to address the matter of ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest bid, citing the need for transparency and adherence to constitutional principles.
Zaid drew attention to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent remarks in Doha in which he suggested that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong only consider Najib’s bid after the conclusion of the latter’s ongoing 1MDB trial.
In doing so Anwar emphasised that, as prime minister, he would not override the king’s authority and that his recommendations would only be made if the ruler asked for it.
“The saga of house arrest is not a bid by Najib; it came about because the government was not acting on the royal pardon. Najib had to initiate legal action because the government was unwilling to act on the decree.
“The govt was hiding this information from the public until the court case,” Zaid claimed in a statement today.
The former Umno member warned against covert manoeuvres, stressing the importance of honesty and adherence to constitutional provisions.
Zaid and his firm had represented Najib in the final stage of his appeal in the SRC International corruption case at the Federal Court in 2022.
“Be candid on this issue. If necessary, advise the Malay rulers that there is an avenue for them to refer to the Federal Court should there be any questions relating to their powers and the exercise thereof that need clarification.
“Use the constitutional provision to get out of this saga,” he added.
He urged the cabinet to consider the ramifications of questioning the Agong’s power to pardon and called upon Umno to assert pressure for a lawful resolution.
‘New excuses’
Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi accused Anwar of giving “new excuses” to justify not allowing Najib’s house arrest bid to proceed.
“If the report is true, then it is a new excuse. It was said that the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal addendum (allowing the house arrest) was made outside the Pardons Board’s meeting session,” he said on Facebook.
The rakyat, he added, will now accuse the prime minister of not granting Najib’s house arrest request when an addendum exists and its contents are true.
“There will be more excuses to come. Wait until the completion of the 1MDB case, SRC case, the Inland Revenue Board’s RM1.6 billion tax arrears case, and others. Let Najib wait until the 17th and 18th general elections are over,” Puad said.
He also questioned why Anwar did not make a similar remark before the recently concluded Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“What would have happened (if it was) before the by-election polling day? Only Umno voters know,” he said. - Mkini
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