Zaliha sidesteps queries on Najib’s ‘supplementary order’ claim
Dr Zaliha Mustafa is a member of the Federal Territories Pardons Board that reduced Najib Razak’s prison term and fine in the SRC International case on Jan 29.
PETALING JAYA: Federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa today sidestepped questions on the purported “supplementary order”, which allegedly allows Najib Razak to serve the rest of his jail sentence under house arrest.
Zaliha, who is a member of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB), told reporters to refer to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s earlier remarks on the issue instead, Berita Harian reported.
“There’s already input from Datuk Seri (Anwar Ibrahim), you just follow what Datuk Seri has said. Nothing more from me,” she was quoted as saying.
Najib is seeking leave of the High Court to commence judicial review proceedings in a bid to compel the government to produce the supplementary order, purportedly issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, during the board’s meeting on Jan 29.
Anwar previously said he did not want to be involved in discussions about the supplementary order, citing the board’s jurisdiction, which falls under the absolute authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers.
The FTPB is headed by the king and consists of five members – the attorney-general, the federal territories minister, and a maximum of three others appointed by the king.
On Feb 2, the board halved Najib’s prison sentence in his SRC International case from 12 years to six, and reduced his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Najib, 70, is currently serving his sentence at Kajang prison and is to be released on Aug 23, 2028.
On April 1, he commenced legal proceedings to compel the government to execute the supplementary decree, if it exists, to place him under house arrest.
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi subsequently filed an affidavit to support Najib’s legal challenge bid, claiming that investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz had shown him a copy of the order on his phone.