NAJIB Razak’s request to be excused from his trial to attend the Parliament sitting tomorrow afternoon has been rejected by the high court.

Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequearah, the presiding judge for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd trial, disallowed the request, saying that the trial must continue as planned tomorrow.

Defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah at the end of proceedings today told the court that the Pekan MP was invited by backbenchers to speak after lunch.

“He (also) has to attend in order to follow the proceedings in Parliament. Can yang ariff excuse him for this important function?” said Shafee.

The oral application was only for the trial to be vacated in the afternoon. Najib was ready to continue as usual in the morning.

However, Sequerah rejected the request.

“I appreciate that he has a duty to perform. I also have a duty to perform. These are competing duties.

“However, this case has to proceed tomorrow as fixed, from 9.30am until 4.30pm, with the usual lunch break,” the judge said before adjourning today’s hearing. 

“So, you’re not allowing him to attend tomorrow?” asked Shafee.

“No,” responded Sequerah.

Shafee had earlier said Najib was slated to be the first to deliver a speech during question time in the morning but that he had swapped slots with fellow Umno lawmaker Shahidan Kassim.

The lawyer cited Section 32 the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, which states the privileges and immunities enjoyed by MPs.

“I almost cited a member of Parliament for contempt for a certain statement that he made in the corridor of Parliament but something tells me I should do some research. Then, I realise due to the privilege of an MP or a senator, (to attempt to cite him) for the statement he made, I myself can be cited for contempt (of) Parliament.”

Sequerah then asked does this mean he can be cited for contempt if he does not allow the application.

“No, what this is about is preventing a member of Parliament from going to attend to his duty, where he is invited (to speak). It comes within the ambit where the speaker of Parliament needs to be told. That is going by convention.”

Najib, who turns 67 next Thursday, is on trial for four counts of power abuse to enrich himself with RM2.3 billion from 1MDB and 21 counts of laundering the same amount. He faces up to 20 years’ prison upon conviction.

Sequerah had allowed the trial to be vacated yesterday to allow Najib to participate in parliamentary debates – the first in seven months and since the Pakatan Harapan government fell and was replaced by the Perikatan Nasional coalition led by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin barely commands a majority in the Dewan Rakyat, scrapping through a vote to dismiss former Dewan Speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, who was replaced by former Election Commission chief Azhar Azizan Harun. – July 15, 2020.