Why raise house arrest questions only now, Umno asks AGC

Why raise house arrest questions only now, Umno asks AGC

2 days ago

FMT Reporters

Party information chief Azalina Othman Said says it is fair that the attorney-general explain why the concerns were only raised after the fine was paid.

Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said said the party took the AGC’s concerns seriously, especially since Najib Razak’s residence had already been gazetted as a prison. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Umno has called on the attorney-general to say when his chambers identified the concerns it raised when it suggested the deferral of Najib Razak’s house arrest, given his role in the Federal Territories Pardons Board.

The party’s information chief Azalina Othman Said, who is also law and institutional reform minister, also said it was fair that the attorney-general explain why the Attorney-General’s Chambers raised its concerns only after the RM50 million fine had been paid and a court order had been issued.

“Umno respects the attorney-general’s position as the government’s primary legal adviser. The party urges the AGC to immediately explain the legal basis for delaying the implementation of house arrest,” she said in a statement today.

Azalina highlighted a statement issued by Najib’s lawyers and said Umno took the AGC’s concerns seriously, especially since Najib’s residence had already been gazetted as a prison.

“Umno upholds the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s power of pardon under the Federal Constitution. The conditional pardon and the High Court’s order must be respected and given effect in accordance with the law,” she said.

Najib’s lawyers had earlier this evening questioned why the attorney-general had not raised the legal questions when he attended the pardons board meeting which advised the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the pardon.

The lawyers said the AGC has no power to delay Najib’s house arrest and must take to court any question it has about the house arrest order.

The statement came in response to the AGC’s call earlier today for Najib to remain in prison and for his house arrest to be deferred pending a review of the conditional pardon and the Order of Discharge granted by the High Court after payment of a RM50 million fine.

Najib’s lawyers said it was not “open to the AGC to refuse to carry out the express terms of a royal pardon while it considered its position”.