Zahid granted special permission to visit Najib, says minister

Ravin Palanisamy Ravin Palanisamy Updated 2 years ago · Published on 14 Jun 2023 3:03PM · 3 Comments

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pictured) says Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was granted ‘special permission’ to visit Najib Razak in Kajang Prison. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, June 14, 2023.

UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was granted “special permission” to visit former prime minister Najib Razak, who is serving time in Kajang Prison, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

Saifuddin said he was notified of this by Prison commissioner-general Nordin Muhamad, who is the only person other than himself authorised to issue the special permission under Regulation 86 of the Prisons Regulation 2000.

“The Prison commissioner-general notified me, and so I know (of Zahid’s visit). Subsequent procedures are by him.

“The most important thing is that I was notified, and I’m aware,” Saifuddin told reporters, who asked him about Zahid’s visit.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, in his speech at Umno’s annual general assembly last week, revealed how he had met Najib in Kajang Prison, brought the former Pekan MP’s favourite food and spent about two hours together.

Saifuddin denied the allegation that Zahid brought along electronic equipment during his meeting with Najib.

“I’ve spoken to the Prisons director-general, who mentioned that he brought (carried electronic equipment); that is not correct.

“Whoever enters (Kajang Prison) has to be inspected as usual regardless of rank.”

Asked about the duration of the visit, which was only limited to 45 minutes, Saifuddin said it was at the discretion of the prison officer on duty at the time.

“Prison officers are the parties that have the authority to make decisions at that moment,” he said.

“As I’ve mentioned earlier, Rules 86 and 99 on the visiting permission and food, the supervising officer at the time will consider how long (meeting time).

“I used to visit Anwar (Ibrahim) in Sungai Buloh Prison, and sometimes, I got 15 minutes, sometimes, 30 minutes. It was very rare that I got 45 minutes, and it was at the discretion of the officer at the time.” – June 14, 2023.

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Comments

  • This is what happens when a clearly incompetent man is made a Minister, and worse, without even having won a Parliamentary seat.
    What say you, Saifuddin?

    The most important thing is the double standards being meted out, and the preferential treatment being given to a man who has stolen billions from the public.

    Saying that you knew about is is besides the point.
    You need to explain WHY the preferential treatment was granted.

    Posted 2 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply

  • Proven without beyond any doubt that we have two sets of rules, one for the ordinary folks like you and me while the second for those within the corridors of power.

    Posted 2 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • I will never trust this PH led coalition govt again with all the UTurns on current issues plus the numerous breach into their own Manifesto during the last election.

    Posted 2 years ago by Abdul Rashid · Reply