IT was a court decision to allow Najib Razak access to his passport for his trip to Singapore, Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz told the Dewan Rakyat when questioned why the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) had not blacklisted the former prime minister.

“It was a court decision,” the finance minister said repeatedly during his ministry’s winding- up session on the Supply Bill 2022 debate (committee stage) in Dewan Rakyat today.

Tengku Zafrul, who was repeatedly asked the question, was responding to RSN Rayer (Jelutong-PH) who asked why IRB had not blacklisted Najib despite the latter owing the board RM1.69 billion in tax arrears.

“Why has IRB not blacklisted Najib, who owes millions, when others are stopped at the immigration (checkpoint) for owing IRB?” said Rayer.

“The government has also blacklisted students who only owe thousands in study loans. But why is Najib given special treatment? Does he have a deal with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob?”

Tengku Zafrul, who smiled at Rayer, had initially declined to respond, causing Rayer to ask repeatedly until he was suspended by Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat-PN).

Picking up from Rayer, Tanjung Malim’s Chang Lih Kang again repeated the question until Tengku Zafrul replied that it was a court decision.

“But I think you have misunderstood the question,” said Chang.

“We want to know why IRB has not blacklisted Najib, not whether the court has returned his passport,” said Chang, as Tengku Zafrul continued with his winding-up.

On October 26, the Kuala Lumpur High Court decided to allow the return of Najib’s travel documents.

The court also allowed the former prime minister, who was convicted of corruption and power abuse last year, to travel to Singapore from October 25 till December 6 to visit his new born grandson.

The court later amended Najib’s travel date to November 21 until December 5, as he had to lead the Malacca state elections for Barisan Nasional. – November 24, 2021.