In March 2016, then parliamentary affairs minister Azalina Othman Said put a blanket ban on questions about Najib Abdul Razak's RM2.6 billion donation scandal, citing a rule against sub judice discussions.
Almost nine years later, Azalina, now as the law minister, is using that same rule to deflect questions about the former premier’s royal addendum on house arrest.
The rule - 23(1)(g) of the Dewan Rakyat's Standing Orders - was cited by Azalina in a written reply yesterday in response to such a query from Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut).
The opposition leader had wanted to know if Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was informed by the attorney-general about the royal addendum, when or after Istana Negara received it.
"As the matter is still in court, it (the addendum) can't be discussed in line with Standing Orders 23(1)(g)," Azalina said.
Decree on house arrest
The royal addendum is a decree from the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, allowing Najib to serve the rest of his prison sentence for the SRC International corruption case under house arrest.
The government, including Anwar, has indicated that this matter was not discussed in the Pardons Board meeting that Sultan Abdullah chaired during his last day as king - which halved Najib's prison sentence from 12 years to six.
It has been implied that Sultan Abdullah issued the decree after the Pardons Board meeting.
On Jan 6, the Court of Appeal allowed Najib's appeal to commence a judicial review at the High Court to compel the government to enforce the addendum.
On Jan 11, in a public speech, Anwar revealed that the addendum had been sent directly to the attorney-general (AG).
However, he said that after the letter was received, the Agong changed, and the AG submitted the letter to Istana Negara to allow the newly appointed Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, to make a decision.
“The decision (addendum) was sent to the AG… not to me… not to members of the Pardons Board.
“And the AG, when the new Agong was installed, (the AG) sent to Istana Negara as the king chairs it (the Pardons Board).
“That’s the situation… we didn’t hide anything,” Anwar had said.
However, on Feb 13, Anwar in Parliament said he would not comment on the matter until the court process is over.
The AG Chambers is applying for a gag order on discussions pertaining to the addendum.
However, Azalina has repeatedly said that she is opposed to the gag order. - Mkini
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