PUTRAJAYA: The royal addendum order allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest was never hidden by the government, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today.
Fahmi clarified that while the government adhered to the legal principle of sub judice in its prior responses, he personally had no knowledge of the document.
“We must follow the advice and views of the attorney-general concerning such matters to avoid prejudicing court proceedings,” he said during a press conference.
He maintained that the document was not deliberately kept under wraps but refrained from elaborating on who had access to it or was aware of its existence.
On Monday, Najib received permission to initiate judicial review proceedings to compel the government to execute a supplementary royal decree issued by the former king. This decree purportedly allows him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.
The existence of the addendum was confirmed by the Pahang royal household’s comptroller in a letter submitted to the court by Najib’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah.
The revelation has triggered calls for transparency, with some accusing the government of concealing the decree.
However, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail insisted that his ministry had not received any directive or addendum on house arrest. He confirmed that the only documents his ministry received pertained to the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s meeting minutes and an official pardon reducing Najib’s sentence.
Attorney General Dusuki Mokhtar and former AG Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh declined to comment on the matter earlier today.
Fahmi emphasized that the government’s previous responses were in line with ongoing legal processes and sub judice principles.
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