PRISONED former prime minister Najib Razak can get his own medications to treat his high blood pressure medical condition, said Khairy Jamaluddin. 

Based on checks with the Prisons Department procedures, the health minister said there were no restrictions placed upon Najib from having his own medications, provided that he can purchase it.

“I understand that it can be allowed,” Khairy said. 

“According to the procedure, prisoners who can afford to purchase their own medications, are allowed to do so.”

“I’ve communicated to his (Najib’s) family that if they want to supply him with branded medications, they can do so. The ones provided by hospitals are generic ones,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today. 

Khairy said that according to his understanding, Najib had brought his own medications to the prison and that the Health Ministry had no issues with it. 

He said the prison’s regulations also allowed such practices. 

Earlier today, the Kuala Lumpur High Court decided to adjourn the Najib 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial for the rest of the week as the former prime minister is still warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL).

Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the hospital will run a number of tests on the Pekan MP and is unsure when he will be discharged. 

Najib has been warded in HKL since Monday evening. 

Yesterday, Shafee said that Najib was exhibiting unexpected fluctuations in blood pressure. 

Addressing the court today, Shafee said that based on Najib’s current medical reports, the condition of the former prime minister is improving. 

He said this could be because Najib was given his original medications, which he had been taking earlier. 

He denied that Najib had been given his regular medications. 

Explaining to the media about the medications given to Najib, Shafee said the claims by the Health Ministry are “nonsense”. 

“The medicines and dosage amount are correct, one is original and the other is not (generic). 

“If anybody from the Health Ministry said they are identical, that’s total nonsense.” 

Shafee also took a swipe at Khairy for not allowing Najib to seek medical attention at private health institutions. 

The lawyer told the court that Najib could have been transferred to the National Heart Institute (IJN) only for Khairy to deny him of it. 

Khairy said that Najib will remain in HKL as he is a prisoner. 

“We were initially told by the Health Ministry themselves that Najib will be sent to IJN. 

“They didn’t want to take the risk. He (Najib) is not the first person from prison who requires specialist treatment. If the problem is serious, he has to look for specialists.”

“I don’t think he (Khairy) is right. He should look at the Prison Act,” said Shafee. – September 14, 2022.