Any move to protest the decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest could be seen as challenging the constitutional authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has warned.
Zahid said the conditional pardon granted under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution reflected the King’s constitutional powers and prerogative, which must be respected by all institutions and members of the public.
In a statement, he expressed Umno’s gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim for granting Najib the conditional pardon, which paved the way for the former prime minister to serve the remainder of his sentence at home.
“Umno maintains that any action displaying elements of protest, including using the conditional pardon decreed by His Majesty as grounds for taking action, could be construed as challenging or defying His Majesty’s constitutional authority,” he said.
Zahid stressed that Malaysia was governed by the rule of law and that everyone had a responsibility to uphold the Federal Constitution as long as legal processes remained within its framework.
“Umno will remain steadfast in defending the dignity and sovereignty of His Majesty and the Malay Rulers,” he added.
The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department said last September that Sultan Ibrahim had granted Najib a conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.
Last Friday, Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Farhan Shafee confirmed that the former prime minister had paid the RM50 million fine imposed in the SRC International Sdn Bhd funds misappropriation case.
However, the Attorney-General’s Chambers later announced that implementation of the house arrest arrangement had been temporarily deferred pending further clarification on the discharge order issued for Najib.
On Tuesday, High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin issued a fresh order for Najib to be transferred from Kajang Prison to his residence in Taman Duta with immediate effect.
