Prison Dept ‘no’ to Najib request to attend parliament

Noel Achariam Noel Achariam Updated 1 year ago · Published on 3 Oct 2022 6:15PM · 4 Comments

The Prison Department has rejected jailed former prime minister Najib Razak’s request to attend parliament on safety grounds, according to his lawyer. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 3, 2022.

THE Prison Department has rejected jailed former prime minister Najib Razak’s request to attend parliament, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said.

He said the director-general of prisons has rejected the application because of security reasons.

“We have written to the prisons director-general about 12 days ago and got a reply four days later that he won’t allow Najib to attend the sittings on safety grounds.

“It (decision) is unreasonable and irrational (to not allow Najib to attend parliament),” he said at Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Earlier today, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said parliament has no power to stop Najib from attending the daily meetings.

He said he does not have the power to prevent any parliamentarian from entering the Dewan Rakyat chambers.

Shafee said that he wrote to Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin on Friday but had yet to receive a reply.

“If we don’t receive an answer, we will file for a judicial review at the High Court tomorrow after midday.

“This will be for him to attend parliament. Safety concerns is not a good reason.

“Under normal circumstances we wouldn’t rush, but time is already short because parliament is in session.”

He said the grounds were that the Speaker recognises the law that Najib is still MP until his pardon or review of Federal Court judgement is done.

“He is still retained as an MP unless there is a general election.”

Shafee also said that security measures can be taken if Najib were to attend parliament. 

“If he can be in open court and hospital, then there is no security issue. 

“The Prisons Department can take security measures. It can collaborate with parliament on that.”

He also said that Najib, as a serving MP, should have access to his political aide.

“The aide should be allowed to see Najib to take instructions on how to serve his constituents.

“Meanwhile, Najib should be escorted to his constituency to talk to his constituents and to render assistance.

“I’m not saying he should get all the privileges of an MP but he should be allowed to exercise his duty as such.

“If he is an MP treat him as an MP.” – October 3, 2022.

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Comments

  • Essentially, he seeks to make a mockery of the Judiciary, and a farce of the sentence.
    In all other countries, a prisoner, even a political prisoner, and not just a common thief like Najib, has to stay behind bars, and serve his sentence in full.
    No prisoner has the right to demand anything beyond the basic entitlements that all other prisoners receive.

    Posted 1 year ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • So an MP is above the law. he has been convicted but by a twist of the law remains MP for the time being. Does that mean he is then free to attend parliament and even to visit his constituents? Absolutely no!!! No where in the world is there a justice system that allows this! This will cause a great embarrassment to Parliament and the country. If at all he goes any where he should be handcuffed. Even people not convicted are handcuffed. This is a convict and he should be handcuffed everywhere he goes including attending court sessions. Please don't abuse the rule of law anymore and bring disgrace to the country. Share should be in jail too for his crimes instead of being free to wreak havoc

    Posted 1 year ago by Brave Malaysian · Reply

  • Finally, common sense has prevailed. The Speaker is too chicken to make the right moral call to protect the dignity of the August House .

    Posted 1 year ago by Rupert Lum · Reply

  • No one want to see a convict in parliament.

    Posted 1 year ago by G Tan · Reply