'What choice does Najib have other than hauling ex-AG to court?'

'What choice does Najib have other than hauling ex-AG to court?'

Published: May 27, 2025 1:56 PM
Updated: 3:56 PM


Summary

• Umno leader Puad Zarkashi hits back at AGC for criticising Najib Abdul Razak’s decision to initiate contempt proceedings against former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh.

• Puad asks what other choices Najib have other than hauling the former AG to court.

Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi came to Najib Abdul Razak’s defence over the latter’s application to file contempt proceedings against former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh.

Puad also hit back at the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for criticising the former prime minister’s decision.

“AGC slammed Najib for initiating contempt proceedings against Terrirudin. But if Najib had not challenged the royal addendum case, people would not have known the decree existed. Not to mention, Terrirudin denying it.

“So, is it not appropriate for Najib to initiate contempt of court proceedings?” he posted on Facebook.

Najib filed an application with the court on May 21 to cite Terrirudin for contempt for declining to reveal the existence of a royal addendum ordering Najib to serve the remainder of his six-year jail term under house arrest.


Abuse of process

The AGC, in a statement on May 23, said the move was an abuse of process and directly in breach of a Kuala Lumpur High Court order to postpone all proceedings related to the royal addendum ordering Najib to serve the remainder of his six-year jail term under house arrest.

It clarified that the issue raised in this application is the subject of an appeal that has yet to be decided by the Federal Court, where the case has been set for hearing this July 1 and 2.

“The issues that were cited as the basis for the committal proceedings (filed by Najib) will be thoroughly argued in the appeal proceedings.

“The High Court had on April 28 allowed the postponement of all proceedings until the appeal case is disposed of at the Federal Court,” it said.

The AGC noted that on May 22, the High Court had also confirmed in writing that the postponement covers all existing and future proceedings related to this case, including any contempt proceeding.

“Any attempt to initiate or continue contempt proceedings when the postponement order is still in effect is a direct violation of the court ruling and will affect the orderly administration of justice,” the statement said.

Puad further questioned what options Najib had after the AGC appealed the Court of Appeal’s decision.

The appellate court previously allowed for a judicial review to be initiated to force the government or six other parties to respond and confirm the existence of the addendum order in January last year.

“AGC appealed against the decision. So, what does this signal? What other options does Najib have when the addendum has been hidden for so long and the house arrest case is still being delayed? Hopefully, this July, it will not be delayed any further," Puad added.