ZAHID Hamidi has confirmed the existence of an addendum in a recent royal pardon that allows for Najib Razak to serve his jail term under house arrest.

Zahid, who is deputy prime minister and Umno president, said he was shown a phone image of that supplementary royal order by International Trade and Investment Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz on January 30.

He said this in support of Najib’s bid to be allowed house arrest in an affidavit filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

“I verily believe that for the sufficient period of time I sighted and read the addendum order, and I clearly saw the entire contents and that it forms part of the pardon process of the applicant, which is supplementary to the main (royal) order both dated January 29, 2024.

“Thus, I hereby confirm the existence of the addendum order dated January 29, 2024, issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“I also verily believe that other than myself and Zafrul, other members of the government have seen the addendum order. Specifically, I am aware that (Pahang Menteri Besar) Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail has also seen a copy of the addendum order and can confirm the same,” Zahid claimed.

On April 1, Najib filed a judicial review leave application to be allowed to serve his jail term under house arrest.

In his application, Najib claims that an addendum in a recent royal pardon allowed him to serve the remainder of his six-year jail term under house arrest.

He is seeking a court order to compel the home minister, the attorney-general, the Pardons Board, the federal government, and a few other respondents to confirm this alleged addendum in the royal pardon.

Najib claimed that the addendum was issued by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on January 29.

On February 2, the Pardons Board halved Najib’s initial 12-year jail sentence over the RM42 million SRC International corruption case, which will see the former leader walk free on August 23, 2028.

The board said that it made the decision after a meeting on January 29. It did not give a reason for approving Najib’s request for a pardon.

It also reduced Najib’s RM210 million fine to just RM50 million.

Earlier this month, Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that a “critical witness” was set to file an affidavit to support Najib’s judicial review.

It now appears that the witness is Zahid, who had previously vowed that he and Umno will do all that they can to ensure Najib gets justice.

June 5 decision

Najib’s application before High Court judge Amarjeet Singh today was held in chambers following a request from Shafee.

Shafee had applied for the media to be barred from covering the judicial review bid.

Speaking to reporters later, Shafee said the government must explain why the existence of the royal supplementary order was being concealed.

He said he had received no response to the letters he sent to multiple ministers seeking confirmation of the royal addendum.

He said a letter was also sent to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“One cannot conceal it (royal addendum). This is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s order,” Shafee said.

The High Court set June 5 for a decision on whether to grant leave to Najib to proceed with the judicial review. – April 17, 2024.