HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has dismissed claims of any knowledge regarding a purported “supplementary decree” allegedly issued by the former King Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah allowing former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve his six-year prison sentence under house arrest.
During a press conference, Saifuddin confirmed receiving a letter from Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah requesting confirmation of the existence of the supplementary decree.
“I have no information on this additional document. He says it exists. So I will go through (and respond to the letter) based on what I know,” stated the minister.
When questioned about whether he had ever seen the alleged “addendum order” from the former King, the minister responded negatively, stating, “No. I’m not a member of the (Federal Territories) Pardons Board. I have no idea.”
Moreover, Saifuddin assured that he would respond to Shafee’s letter in due course and declined to provide further comments.
On Feb 2, the Federal Territories Pardons Board reduced Najib’s prison sentence in the SRC International case from 12 years to six and decreased his fine from RM210 mil to RM50 mil.
Currently serving his sentence at Kajang prison, Najib is expected to be released on Aug 23, 2028.
Furthermore, Najib recently filed an application at the High Court on April 1, seeking to compel the government to produce the alleged supplementary decree from the former King. He claimed that the decree was issued during the pardons board’s meeting on Jan 29 but was not announced on Feb 2.
The former premier’s legal team has also reached out to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as well as Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said seeking confirmation of the decree’s existence, but their queries remain unanswered.
Accusing the government of contempt for not executing the alleged supplementary decree, Najib is pressing the Kuala Lumpur High Court to mandate the government to enforce the decree, thereby placing him under house arrest.
The High Court has scheduled April 17 for the hearing of Najib’s application. – April 4, 2024
Main photo credit: Bernama
