KUALA LUMPUR – An Umno Supreme Council meeting today discussed its former president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s ongoing application to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest, among others.
The matter was confirmed by council member Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin, who briefly spoke to the media after the meeting at Menara Dato’ Onn, here, concluded at 5pm.
However, Sharkar, who is also Pahang speaker, declined to divulge details of the discussion as Najib’s judicial review application seeking house arrest will be heard before the court.
“Let the court decide. We don’t want to publicly comment (on Najib’s application) since any statement could be construed as being in contempt of court.
“A decision will be made soon, so let’s wait and see,” he added, referencing how Najib’s leave for his judicial review application to enforce a purported royal addendum order on his house arrest was to be heard by the court on June 5.
Previously, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had filed an affidavit as a witness in the former prime minister’s judicial review application.
Zahid’s affidavit claimed that fellow Umno leader Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz had shown him a copy of a royal addendum order allowing Najib to serve his remaining prison sentence under house arrest.
Zahid also claimed that a copy of the addendum order dated January 29 bearing the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s seal and signature was in the collective possession of respondents named in Najib’s judicial review application.
Tengku Zafrul, who is also investment, trade and industry minister, immediately responded to the news report on Zahid’s affidavit, stating his intention to file his own affidavit to correct certain “factual errors” in the one signed by the deputy prime minister.
Yesterday, high court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh rejected Tengku Zafrul’s application to submit his own affidavit as the minister did not represent any parties named as respondents in Najib’s judicial review application.
Najib, in his judicial review application, named the home minister, the commissioner-general of prisons, the attorney-general, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, the federal government, the law minister, as well as the director-general of the legal affairs division in the Prime Minister’s Department, as respondents in his judicial review application.
He filed the judicial review application on April 1, alleging that there was an addendum order issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong dated January 29 allowing the former Umno president to serve his remaining jail term under house arrest.
The former prime minister, currently serving his sentence for corruption in the SRC International case, has requested that the respondents confirm the addendum order exists – and if so, to execute the order, provide original copies of it and discuss any necessary relief the court deems fit.
Najib’s prison sentence was halved by the Pardons Board at its meeting on January 29 from 12 years to six, and his fine was lowered from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Umno to celebrate 78th anniversary on May 11
Meanwhile, in a statement distributed to the media after the Umno Supreme Council meeting, party secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that Umno would be celebrating its 78th anniversary on May 11.
Celebrations, he said, would be organised by state party representatives nationwide. Prayers will also be held at the Dewan Tun Hussein Onn, here.
Fellow unity government party PKR will also be celebrating its 25th anniversary on May 11, with festivities scheduled to be held at the Sentul Depot.
Kuala Kubu Baharu will also be heading to the polls on the same day. – May 3, 2024