Tiada keperluan AG diarah menghadap Agong, kata Asyraf

 Setiausaha Agung Umno, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, kata Perlembagaan memperuntukkan kuasa pengampunan terletak pada Agong dan dilaksanakan menerusi lembaga pengampunan.

Setiausaha Agung Umno, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, kata tiada keperluan untuk peguam negara diarahkan menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

PETALING JAYA:

Setiausaha Agung Umno, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, berkata tiada keperluan untuk peguam negara diarahkan menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong bagi menjelaskan isu perundingan berhubung pelaksanaan tahanan di rumah terhadap Najib Razak.

Asyraf berkata Perlembagaan memperuntukkan kuasa pengampunan terletak pada Agong dan dilaksanakan menerusi lembaga pengampunan, termasuk kuasa memberi pengampunan, mengurang atau meringankan hukuman.

“Jadi, apabila Agong sudah menitahkan perkara itu melalui proses yang sewajarnya, iaitu menerusi lembaga pengampunan, keputusan berkenaan tidak boleh dipertikaikan.

“Oleh itu, tiada keperluan untuk peguam negara diarahkan menghadap Agong bagi memberikan penjelasan,” katanya, lapor Berita Harian.

Terdahulu, Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim meminta Peguam Negara Dusuki Mokhtar menghadap Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, bagi menjelaskan permasalahan sekitar pelaksanaan titah tahanan di rumah terhadap Najib.

Anwar menegaskan bahawa kerajaan memperakui titah dan bidang kuasa Agong, dan membuat persiapan untuk memenuhi keputusan dan tanggungjawab melaksanakannya.

Semalam, Umno umum melunaskan denda RM50 juta dikenakan terhadap Najib selepas mengumpulkan dana menerusi kempen sumbangan. Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur kemudian mengeluarkan perintah pelepasan selepas bayaran direkodkan, namun Jabatan Peguam Negara (AGC) mengeluarkan kenyataan pelaksanaan tahanan rumah wajar ditangguhkan sementara, bagi meneliti persoalan perundangan berkaitan perintah pengampunan dan kesan perintah mahkamah.

Hari ini, Istana Negara menegaskan sebarang tindakan mempertikaikan perintah pengampunan bersyarat membolehkan Najib menjalani baki hukuman penjara bawah tahanan rumah menjurus perbuatan mengingkari titah Agong.

Katanya, perintah pengampunan bersyarat itu adalah jelas, nyata, dan tanpa sebarang ambiguiti, serta tidak terkait dengan mana-mana kes lain terhadap Najib.

Istana Negara juga berkata, kuasa pengampunan merupakan prerogatif diraja yang diperuntukkan di bawah Perkara 42 Perlembagaan, maka pelaksanaan kuasa tersebut hendaklah dihormati selaras dengan kedudukan raja berperlembagaan dan prinsip kedaulatan undang-undang.

Katanya, semua syarat dalam perintah pengampunan bersyarat berkenaan telah dipenuhi dan tidak sepatutnya timbul kekeliruan tafsiran atau ketidakpastian berpanjangan mengenai pelaksanaannya.

Hari ini, AGC menjelaskan permohonan menangguhkan pelaksanaan tahanan di rumah Najib bukan percubaan mempertikaikan pengampunan bersyarat diberikan Agong.

Katanya, timbul persoalan undang-undang mengenai skop dan kesan arahan pelepasan tersebut, khususnya sama ada pelepasan diperintahkan hanya berkaitan dengan pembayaran denda atau membolehkan baki hukuman penjara SRC International diteruskan melalui tahanan rumah, atau sama ada perintah itu membawa kesan hukuman dalam kes SRC International telah selesai.

AGC berkata, ia mempunyai kaitan langsung dengan perintah Mahkamah Tinggi dalam kes 1MDB yang menetapkan hukuman penjara dalam kes terbabit hendaklah bermula selepas hukuman dalam kes SRC International selesai dijalani. - FMT

Fallen trees crush cars, damage shop in Kubang Semang and Prai

 

Two separate fallen tree incidents damaged two vehicles, a house and a shop in Kubang Semang and Prai today. - Pic courtesy of Fire and Rescue Dept

SEBERANG PRAI: Two separate fallen tree incidents damaged two vehicles, a house and a shop in Kubang Semang and Prai today.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department operations division assistant director John Sagun Francis said they were alerted to the incident in Prai at 6.01pm today.

A team from the Prai fire station, supported by personnel from the Bandar Perda fire station, was dispatched to the scene at Desa Sutera Square along Jalan Sutera 3.

"Firefighters found a fallen tree had crushed a Proton Saga taxi and damaged a small section of a nearby shop roof. The taxi driver, in his 50s, escaped unhurt.

"Firefighters, together with workers from the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP), carried out cutting and clearing operations to remove the fallen trunk and branches," he said.

The operation ended at 7.57pm after the area was deemed safe and handed over to the local council for further action.

Francis said that in an earlier incident, firemen from the Penanti fire station were deployed to Mengkuang Titi in Kubang Semang after a tree fell and hit a Perodua Bezza and a portion of a house.

"The 24-year-old car owner was unhurt.

"Personnel cleared the tree before handing the site back to the homeowner," he added. - NST

High-tide phenomenon may hit low-lying, coastal areas in Selangor tomorrow

 

Residents in low-lying and coastal areas of Selangor have been urged to remain vigilant following the forecast of a high tide phenomenon, with water levels expected to reach up to 5.2 metres (m) tomorrow. NSTP FILE PIC

KUALA LUMPUR: Residents in low-lying and coastal areas of Selangor have been urged to remain vigilant following the forecast of a high tide phenomenon, with water levels expected to reach up to 5.2 metres (m) tomorrow.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director, Ashrul Riezal Asbar, said the forecast was based on projections by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), with water levels in Klang recorded at 5.1 metres today.

He said the situation could lead to water flows from the Sungai Buloh and Ijok areas to converge with the high tide, thereby increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying areas.

"As such, we urge residents in coastal and low-lying areas, such as around Kuala Selangor, to remain vigilant and make early preparations," he said.

Regarding the flooding in Kampung Melayu Subang today, Ashrul Riezal said the rising water levels in the area were believed to have been caused by overflow from the local drainage system, rather than the high tide phenomenon.

He said the Selangor Fire and Rescue Department had not received any further reports on the incident, but monitoring efforts were ongoing to ensure that any assistance required could be provided promptly.

Meanwhile, social media posts shared by users showed Kampung Melayu Subang being hit by flash floods again following heavy rain this afternoon, with water inundating residential areas and submerging parts of residents' yards and access roads.

A Threads user, Nurul Azuwana, claimed that water levels rose after only about 20 minutes of rain, while another use, hyenarawr1, claimed that it was the third flash flood to hit the area this week.

On Monday (Nov 2), about 92 houses in four areas in Kampung Melayu Subang, namely Lorong Merbau, Jalan Cengal, Jalan Resak and Jalan Jati, were reported to have been after by flooding. - NST

Kg Melayu Subang hit by floods again, Jln Jati bridge closed

 

A two-hour-long downpour triggered flash floods in Kampung Melayu Subang, with the Jalan Jati Bridge spanning Sungai Damansara closed due to erosion along the riverbank. - Screenshots from social media

KUALA LUMPUR: A two-hour-long downpour triggered flash floods in Kampung Melayu Subang, with the Jalan Jati Bridge spanning Sungai Damansara closed due to erosion along the riverbank.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division Assistant Director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the flash floods were caused by the overflow of the drainage system, and not by the phenomenon of unusually high tides.

"Heavy rain this evening caused the drainage system to be overwhelmed by the volume of water, but water levels in the affected areas are now reported to be receding," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Selangor Public Works Department, in a separate statement, said the Jalan Jati Bridge in Section U6, Kampung Melayu Subang, had been closed to all vehicles for safety reasons following severe erosion of the bridge abutment structure.

The department said the erosion and embankment collapse occurred following a rise in water levels and strong currents in Sungai Damansara due to continuous heavy rain.

"A Traffic Management Plan has been implemented to regulate vehicle movement, and road users are advised to use the alternative route via Lorong Cempaka and comply with the diversion signs at the location," the department said.

The department would also carry out temporary repair works in the affected area, subject to site safety conditions and the availability of materials from quarries, as the work would take place during a public holiday period.

For the long term, the department said an allocation would be sought to carry out permanent repairs to the bridge abutment structure and reinforce the banks of Sungai Damansara to ensure the stability of the bridge. - NST

Home Ministry to follow AGC's advice on Najib’s house arrest

 

The Home Ministry will adhere to the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) advice for the courts to clarify details on the implementation of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s affirmation came amid an ongoing dispute between the AGC and Najib’s lawyers over a Kuala Lumpur High Court order issued following Najib’s payment of his RM50 million fine.

While the order was initially expected to pave the way for Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, the AGC’s call for an immediate temporary suspension of any such move has left his release from Kajang Prison in limbo.

Speaking to reporters in Kedah today, Saifuddin said the Home Ministry had referred the High Court’s discharge order to the AGC after Najib paid the fine, seeking clarity on its execution.

He said the attorney-general had provided a legal view, but Najib’s lawyers responded with a differing interpretation, making it necessary for the matter to be clarified in court.

“Whatever the decision, the Home Ministry, specifically the Prison Department, will execute it in accordance with legal directives,” he added.

The AGC earlier today denied defying the conditional pardon granted to Najib by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, arguing that the High Court’s discharge order had two distinct legal implications concerning his sentence.

Asserting that the matter has resulted in legal questions which should not be determined unilaterally, the AGC highlighted that the best course of action now would be to seek a clear determination and direction from the court concerning the legal effect of yesterday’s discharge order.

The AGC maintained that seeking clarification was not intended to delay or thwart the execution of the conditional pardon, but to prevent conflicting interpretations and ensure that no sentence was carried out unlawfully.

Lawyers challenge AGC's stance

The dispute over the pardon comes amid a decree by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar that any argument disputing Najib’s conditional pardon could be tantamount to defying the King's orders.

Rejecting the AGC's legal position, Najib’s lawyers pointed out that Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar is a member of the Pardons Board and attended its Sept 18 meeting, which resulted in Najib receiving the conditional pardon.

They also questioned why Najib should remain in Kajang Prison when Saifuddin had already exercised his powers under Section 3 of the Prisons Act 1995 to declare the former prime minister’s 4,558.97-square-metre (49,072-square-foot) home at Jalan Langgak Duta a prison.

“Whatever the AGC’s concerns over the effect of the pardon, they provide no reason to keep our client in one prison and not the other,” Messrs Shafee & Co said in a statement last night. - Mkini

Don't panic buy, govt says following concerns over cyber-attacks

 

The government has not issued any directive for the public to stock up on food supplies for a 72-hour period, as recommended by the Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca).

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu advised consumers not to panic-buy, but instead to continue shopping according to their daily needs as usual.

"We do acknowledge that we are concerned about the current situation, including cyber threats, but we have not yet reached the stage of issuing directives for the public to stockpile food supplies," he said at a press conference after officiating the “Himpunan Semarak Tani Jualan Agro Madani” in Bukit Katil, Malacca today.

Yesterday, Fomca advised consumers to stock up on food and necessities for a period of at least 72 hours, as a precautionary measure against potential supply disruptions due to global geopolitical uncertainties and natural disasters.

Commenting further, Mohamad assured that the national rice stock is sufficient for a period of six months and will continue to be increased.

"The supply of frozen fish is also guaranteed to be sufficient for the next eight months. So, there is no need for excessive purchases.

"Buying goods in excessive quantities will only create problems and make it difficult for other consumers to obtain supplies," he said.

Mohamad said the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry is also constantly assessing the current situation, including through collaboration with universities and researchers such as climate change experts.

As an initial preparatory step, he said the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority, along with private traders with freezing facilities, have been asked to stock up, especially on the people's choice of fish in high demand in the market.

In another development, he said the government aims to implement 5,000 Agro Madani Sales programmes nationwide, compared to the 3,400 held so far.

Mohamad said this programme, which allows consumers to buy goods at 10 to 30 percent cheaper prices, aims to ease the people’s cost of living burden, especially in rural and small-town areas.

"We cannot hold programmes like these every day because local grocery stores also need to do business. So, we are holding it weekly to give people a chance to save money while also ensuring the sustainability of local traders," he added.

- Bernama

AGC denies defying king's decree, cites two conflicting legal implications over Najib's house arrest

 

The Attorney-General’s Chambers has denied defying Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree following its decision to suspend the implementation of Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest.

Instead, it said the move was taken to ensure that Najib’s rights are safeguarded after yesterday’s Kuala Lumpur High Court decision ordering his release.

The AGC's latest statement came as various quarters, including the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, said the agency risked defying the king's orders concerning Najib's conditional house arrest.

The AGC stated that the issue arose after the High Court handed down its ruling shortly after Najib completed the payment of his RM50 million fine yesterday.

Although the court directed that he be released immediately, it also stated that the remainder of his sentence must be served under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, in accordance with the conditional pardon.

Najib Abdul Razak

According to the AGC, this situation carries two distinct legal implications regarding Najib’s sentence, which should not be determined unilaterally.

The statement noted that if the sentence in the SRC International case remains in effect, no question arises regarding the execution of the remaining sentence in accordance with the Conditional Pardon Order.

"Conversely, if the SRC International sentence has legally concluded, its effect on the commencement of the sentence in the 1MDB case must be determined.

"Both possibilities carry different legal implications and should not be decided based on assumptions or unilateral interpretations," the AGC said.

AGC’s stance

Yesterday, the AGC temporarily deferred Najib’s house arrest following two conflicting interpretations of the pardon order, which stipulated that Najib must pay a RM50 million fine before serving his remaining sentence under house arrest.

First interpretation: The payment of the RM50 million fine only fulfils the fine component of the sentence, while the prison sentence for the SRC International case continues until Aug 23, 2028. Under this interpretation, house arrest serves as an alternative method or venue to serve the remaining prison sentence rather than a termination of imprisonment.

Second interpretation: The payment of the RM50 million fine serves as a condition that allows the pardon to take full effect, implying that the entire sentence for the SRC International case - including the prison term - is deemed completed.

The AGC added that questions surrounding the status of the remaining prison term in the SRC International case also carry implications for the execution of Najib’s prison sentence in the 1MDB case.

In the statement issued by Istana Negara today, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar stressed that the power to grant pardons is a royal prerogative enshrined under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.

"The exercise of such power must be respected in accordance with the position of a constitutional monarchy and the principle of the rule of law," the statement read.

Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar

The AGC further dismissed depictions that its action in seeking legal clarification was an attempt to usurp or execute the king's royal pardon powers.

It stated that the power of pardon and the power of the court to interpret and determine the legal effect of an order are two distinct matters.

"Seeking a court ruling on the execution of an order in no way implies questioning the authority of the party that issued that order.

"Therefore, it is inaccurate to equate the AGC’s stance - that a legal question requires judicial determination - with allegations that the attorney-general has usurped His Majesty’s pardon prerogative," it said. - Mkini