In a recent development, former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has urged the government to provide clarification regarding an alleged addendum order for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve his prison sentence under house arrest. Zaid, who previously served as Najib’s lawyer, emphasized the importance of transparency in this matter.
He stated that if there was no such directive issued by the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, the government should publicly deny its existence. Zaid stressed that this issue is of public interest and the authorities should address any legal obstacles preventing action from being taken.
The key question at hand, according to Zaid, is whether the alleged supplementary order is authentic. He noted that if it is indeed legitimate, then Najib could potentially be granted the opportunity to serve his sentence at home.
Najib had previously filed an application for leave for judicial review, claiming that an addendum order by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was included in the royal pardon granted to him on Jan 29. This alleged addendum supposedly permitted him to serve his prison term under house arrest.
When questioned about this matter, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail stated that he was unaware of any additional document and had not seen it. The lack of clarity surrounding this issue has raised concerns and sparked calls for transparency from various quarters.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had previously urged the government to disclose whether house arrest was part of Najib’s royal pardon application. This issue was brought up during a parliamentary debate on the motion of thanks on the Royal Address in early March.
On Feb 2, the Pardons Board announced its decision to reduce Najib’s jail term from 12 years to six. This announcement came amidst ongoing discussions and speculation related to the conditions of Najib’s sentence and the possibility of house arrest.
Overall, the demand for clarification and transparency in this matter continues to grow as the public seeks answers regarding the alleged addendum order and its implications on Najib’s sentence.
