DAP to meet tomorrow over Najib’s house arrest

 The party says its central executive committee will discuss its position and decide on further action following the former prime minister’s conditional pardon.

DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said while the party respects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power to grant pardons under the Federal Constitution, it also upholds the rule of law and opposes corruption. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

DAP’s central executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss and decide the party’s position and follow-up action after former prime minister Najib Razak was granted a conditional pardon today allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

In a statement, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook stressed that the party respects the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power to grant pardons, and said it has always upheld the principles of constitutional monarchy and the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.

Loke said DAP upholds the rule of law and opposes corruption, pointing out that public anger over 1MDB contributed to the change of government in GE14 in 2018.

He said the 1MDB scandal tarnished Malaysia’s image and eroded public and investor confidence in the country’s institutions.

He noted that the finance ministry had said on Sept 13 that the government’s total obligations related to 1MDB amounted to RM51.4 billion, comprising RM42.5 billion already paid by the government, and RM8.9 billion in outstanding debt.

“DAP has been consistent from the outset in demanding justice and accountability over the 1MDB scandal,” he said.

“We have fought for the misappropriation to be thoroughly investigated, and for those responsible to be brought through an independent and fair legal process.

“The people’s mandate to oppose corruption and abuse of power will continue to guide DAP.”

Loke also said federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh had conveyed a position consistent with the party’s principles while carrying out her responsibilities as a member of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB).

Yeoh is one of DAP’s three assistant secretaries-general.

“As she has explained, those views were conveyed honestly and frankly in the interest of the country,” he said.

Earlier today, the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department announced that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, had granted Najib a conditional pardon following a FTPB meeting.

Under the conditional pardon, Najib will serve the remainder of his sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to the payment of his RM50 million fine.

Najib, 73, has been serving a six-year sentence at Kajang prison after the board halved his original 12-year sentence in February 2024. The original RM210 million fine was also reduced to RM50 million.

He was imprisoned in August 2022 after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal in the case. - FMT