Addendum: Veteran lawyer urges rulers to convene meeting over PM's admission

Addendum: Veteran lawyer urges rulers to convene meeting over PM's admission


Published: Jan 11, 2025 1:36 AM


Summary

• Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla urges Malay rulers to convene a special meeting to discuss the addendum issue following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledging its existence.

• He says ex-AG Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh had erred by not executing the addendum.

• Haniff says rulers must act to restore public confidence in the nation’s institutions.

A veteran lawyer has appealed to the Conference of Rulers to hold a special meeting to discuss the royal addendum which would allow former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

“A lot of time and energy had been wasted, with the public drawn into the confusion over the matter just because the government decided to keep quiet on this.

“I recommend the Malay rulers to call for a special meeting to discuss the government’s refusal to admit to the existence of the addendum by all those involved,” said Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla on Facebook today.

Earlier, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged that the AG did receive a letter regarding the royal addendum.

However, Anwar said that after the letter was received, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong changed, and the AG submitted the letter to Istana Negara to allow the newly appointed Agong, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, to make a decision – leaving out the Pardons Board and himself.

“The decision (addendum) was sent to the AG… not to me… not to the Pardons Board.

“And the AG, when the new Agong was installed, (the AG) sent to Istana Negara as the king chairs it (the Pardons Board).

“That’s the situation… we didn’t hide anything,” Anwar was reported as saying.

Anwar did not name which AG was involved but based on the timeline, it is believed to be the previous AG, Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh.

Terrirudin assumed office on Sept 6, 2023, and stepped down on Nov 11, 2024. He was succeeded by Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar.

Terrirudin erred

Haniff (above) said that with Anwar confirming the existence of the addendum, he asked why Terrirudin had not executed it despite clear direction from the previous Agong.

“With Anwar confirming that the addendum was received by Terrirudin, signed on Jan 29, 2024, by the previous Agong, in my honest opinion… the AG had erred in not executing it.”

As far as how to execute a house arrest, Haniff said it was an administrative issue which could have been dealt with later on.

While he noted that Terrirudin has now become a Federal Court judge, the addendum issue may raise questions about the latter’s capability as a judge.

Haniff urged the Malay rulers to take the necessary action against the previous AG and the Anwar-led government to protect the rights of the royals as enshrined under the Federal Constitution.

The measure, he added, would ensure the people regain their faith in the country’s institutions.

“Anwar must answer for Anwar. This is not about good governance alone but about administering the country based on the Constitution and upholding the rule of law,” he added.

On Jan 8, both Terrirudin and his successor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar refused to answer the media’s queries regarding the addendum.