A LAWMAKER asked the Dewan Rakyat today if jailed former prime minister Najib Razak was still being paid his allowance as a parliamentarian.

R.S.N. Rayer (Jelutong-PH) posed the question to Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Mohd Rashid Hasnon.

“On Monday, the speaker said that Pekan will be allowed to attend parliament but there was no answer on whether he is still being given an allowance as an MP,” Rayer said. 

“He has been allowed to seek medical treatment at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital. Is this an exception because he is an MP? 

“Many prisoners are not allowed to go out, and visit family even when someone dies,” he asked at the end of the minister’s question time today. 

Rashid said he could not answer Rayer’s questions immediately. 

“Please write to the office of the speaker (Azhar Azizan Harun) and he will answer accordingly,” Rashid said. 

Najib has been in Kajang Prison since August 23, after the Federal Court upheld his 12-year prison sentence for misappropriating SRC International funds. Najib has further 1Malaysia Development Bhd-related cases pending. 

Since his incarceration, Najib has been treated at Kuala Lumpur Hospital and the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital over an undisclosed medical condition. 

On Monday, Azhar said parliament has no power to stop Najib from attending sessions.

In Najib’s situation, Azhar said that the Prisons Department has the authority to decide whether he can be given a temporary release to attend. 

On the same day, Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told reporters that the Prison Department has rejected Najib’s request to attend Dewan Rakyat.

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

Last month, Najib applied to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for a pardon.

Azhar confirmed that Najib will remain the lawmaker for Pekan until the completion of his pardon process and review at the Federal Court. – October 5, 2022.