National Journalism Laureate Datuk Abdul Kadir Jasin has called on several enforcement agencies to investigate the source of the RM50 million used to pay former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s fine.
He said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) should work together to trace the money and establish where it came from.
Abdul Kadir said the investigation was necessary following allegations that the money was provided by a businessman linked to the former Umno president.
He suggested that the funds could also have come from other business figures who had allegedly secured billions of ringgit in contracts and concessions during Najib’s administration.
“In this context, the Madani Government, which claims to oppose corruption, must investigate to establish the source of the RM50 million fine payment,” he said in a statement on Monday.
The call comes amid an ongoing dispute over the implementation of Najib’s conditional pardon and the possibility of him serving the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
In a statement on Saturday, Istana Negara said any arguments disputing the conditional pardon order were tantamount to disobeying the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The palace also maintained that all conditions stipulated in the conditional pardon order had been fulfilled, adding that its implementation should not lead to prolonged confusion or uncertainty.
On Friday, Umno confirmed that the RM50 million fine had been fully paid at the Kuala Lumpur High Court as a condition for Najib to serve his sentence under house arrest.
However, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) was subsequently reported to have temporarily deferred the implementation of the house arrest arrangement while seeking further clarification on the interpretation of the conditional pardon order granted by Sultan Ibrahim.
The AGC said legal questions had arisen over the order, particularly regarding the implications of the RM50 million payment on the remaining prison sentence Najib is serving in connection with the SRC International case.
On Sept 18, the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya had considered Najib’s petition under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
