POLITICIANS from both sides of the political divide have been urged to avoid making statements or speculating on the ongoing house arrest addendum case involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to ensure fairness and avoid public confusion.
UMNO Malaysia Information Chief, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, emphasised that the matter should remain under the jurisdiction of the courts and not be influenced by external comments.
She highlighted the Court of Appeal’s acknowledgment of the addendum’s existence but reminded everyone that this does not concern its legality.
“On January 13, the High Court will set the trial date, and I urge everyone not to speculate because the court is now tasked with making the determination,” she said, as quoted by UMNO Online.
“We also want to avoid sub judice issues. Since this is already a court case, too many comments would be unfair to all parties.”
Datuk Seri Azalina clarified that the issue at hand is not one of legality but of the addendum’s existence. “This is not about legality; this is only about existence.
Legality is a separate matter, which involves legal issues. So, I want to urge party members to allow the court to make its decision after receiving all the facts from all parties involved,” she added.
Adding to the call for silence, lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla last week warned that political commentary without adequate legal understanding could mislead the public, especially those less familiar with legal intricacies.
“All political leaders and Members of Parliament should refrain from speaking on the matter unless they have specific knowledge of the absolute powers of the Rulers and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he told Sinar Harian.
Haniff stressed the importance of respecting the legal process, particularly on matters involving the King’s constitutional powers.
“I advise all political leaders and Members of Parliament to refrain from speaking on the Titah Adendum case unless they have specific knowledge of the absolute powers of the Rulers and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“This is because not all citizens, especially those in rural areas, have legal knowledge.
“If you are not qualified in the field of law but speak about the Titah Adendum, it risks misleading the public when the court delivers its ruling,” he told Sinar Harian on Wednesday.
Both Datuk Seri Azalina and Haniff Khatri urged the public and political leaders to trust the court process and respect the constitutional provisions surrounding the case. —Jan 12, 2025
Main image: UMNO Online
