PROJECT Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) has called upon the Attorney General (AG) to formally commit to vigorously pursuing the three pending cases against former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
This request, made in writing, aimed to prevent any potential application by the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) for discharge of the cases.
Expressing concerns over AG Datuk Ahmad Terriruddin Mohd Salleh’s role in Najib’s partial pardon, Projek Sama noted the importance of maintaining the ongoing charges against Najib.
“We are deeply concerned about the role of AG Datuk Ahmad Terriruddin Mohd Salleh in the partial pardon of Najib, not only because of the reduction of the jail term and fine but because of the likelihood that the AGC may withdraw the pending charges against Najib.
“Our call is warranted because of the AGC’s track record where two examples were the cases of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy where both were given DNAA (discharge not amounting to an acquittal) and DAA (discharge amounting to an acquittal) (in their respective cases),” it said.
Moreover, Projek Sama stated that if AG Terriruddin fails to provide this public assurance, he should consider resigning in the interest of the public.
“If Terriruddin is unwilling to (give this) public assurance then he should tender his resignation (in fairness) to his ‘clients’, the Malaysian public. If anyone walks free, it must be because they have proven their innocence before the courts and not by short-circuiting the criminal justice system through political negotiation.
“To stop the rot, the Madani government must also expedite the separation of the office of Attorney General and the Public Prosecutor and free the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from political influence,” it added.
On Feb 2, the Pardons Board reduced Najib’s jail term and fine in the SRC International misappropriation case.
However, Najib still faces three pending cases, including an RM27 mil money laundering trial related to SRC International and the 1MDB corruption trial.
The former premier is also charged with criminal breach of trust alongside former treasury secretary-general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah involving RM6.6bil in payments to International Petroleum Investment Company with the trial set to commence on June 4. – Feb 8, 2024
