Umno division chiefs ask AG to drop appeal against Najib's house arrest bid
KUALA LUMPUR : Umno division chiefs have called on Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar to drop his appeal against a Court of Appeal decision allowing former Umno president Najib Razak to initiate a judicial review related to a royal addendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
The AG is appealing to set aside a majority 2-1 ruling on Jan 6 that allowed the former prime minister's application to adduce additional evidence and order the High Court to hear his judicial review.
In a statement, they said that as the principal legal adviser to the government, the AG should 'uphold' the royal addendum and 'support justice'.
The statement was issued on behalf of 160 Umno division chiefs, 145 of whom gathered at a hotel here tonight.
They also proposed that all 191 Umno divisions nationwide that have yet to hold their conferences include a special motion on the addendum during their respective meetings.
'This motion is crucial as a show of party unity and solidarity in defending the institution of Malay rulers and upholding the principle of justice for all,' they said.
The division chiefs also called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to implement the addendum.
The Federal Court was told last Wednesday that AG Dusuki Mokhtar had acknowledged the existence of the addendum but was disputing whether it was genuine or valid.
Najib wants the government to implement the order, dated Jan 29 last year, allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest.
The former prime minister learnt about the addendum soon after the Federal Territories Pardons Board announced in early February last year that his 12-year jail term in connection with the SRC International case had been halved and his RM210 million fine reduced to RM50 million.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BusinessToday
30 minutes ago
- BusinessToday
Anwar: Fiscal Discipline Is Working, New Debt Down To RM77 Billion
Credits to PMO FB Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reaffirmed that his administration has successfully reduced the country's annual new debt to RM77 billion in 2024, a significant drop from RM99 billion in 2022, signalling stronger fiscal prudence. Speaking at the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister's Department in Putrajaya today, he clarified that only the interest payments on legacy debt remain burdensome. 'The new debt taken by the government was RM99 billion in 2022, reduced to RM93 billion in 2023, and in 2024, the total is RM77 billion… that's a reduction,' he said. Criticising misleading claims circulating publicly, Anwar pointed out that some parties continue to accuse the government of increasing debt, despite the data. 'They say the overall debt is higher, including legacy debt and interest payments, but I've stated clearly that the government pledged to reduce new debt, and we've delivered. 'However, what's being spread around suggests that we're increasing the debt, as if we're deceiving the people. If you look at these figures, who's really lying?' he asked. He also underscored that this debt reduction aligns with efforts to narrow the country's fiscal deficit. The government aims to bring the deficit down to 3.8% in 2025 from 4.1% this year and 5.5% in 2022. Anwar explained that the government opted for a gradual reduction approach to avoid disrupting development and market confidence. 'We took over in 2022, and at the time, the fiscal deficit was 5.5%. What is a deficit? It means spending exceeds the country's revenue, which means we are borrowing,' he said. 'We manage the national economy like a household. If your income is RM5,000 but you spend RM7,000, that's a deficit. So now we're reducing expenses to RM6,500, RM6,000, RM5,500, but if we cut too fast, development would stall.' The Prime Minister also credited the civil service's efforts, highlighting Malaysia's 11-spot jump in the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking 2025 to 23rd place, up from 34th last year, the country's best showing since 2020. The rise, announced by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) in June, was attributed to improvements in economic performance and government efficiency. He further noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its Article IV Mission report for 2025, commended Malaysia's fiscal reform agenda, particularly the introduction of the Public Finance and Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). 'What does that mean? It means the Finance Minister has handed over part of his powers to Parliament to assess if targets are not being met. That's what we've done,' he said. Related
Free Malaysia Today
30 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Ensure accountability in deals flagged by A-G, says TI-M
TI-M president Raymon Ram said the Auditor-General's Report must not be 'an annual ritual of regret' but followed by structural reforms. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has urged the government to ensure accountability after the Auditor-General's Report 2025 flagged issues involving several projects worth hundreds of millions of ringgit. TI-M president Raymon Ram said the report unveiled irregularities and systemic weaknesses in financial management and procurement oversight, necessitating structural reforms. Raymon said such issues were not new and had been repeatedly flagged by the audit department, but they had continued because of outdated procedures, weak oversight and a culture of impunity. 'Where is the accountability for all these lapses? 'The government must take a firm stance and hold the leadership accountable for discrepancies involving public funds. 'These recurring findings highlight institutional weaknesses that demand more than administrative corrections; they require structural reform,' he said in a statement. Raymon said the revelations further erode the confidence of Malaysians in public institutions. The A-G's report flagged serious issues on how more than RM460 million of government funds was spent on land deals, university tenders, and defence contracts between 2020 and 2024, naming Felcra Bhd, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and the army. He urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police to initiate investigations into these issues to look into the possibility of fraud, abuse of power or negligence. He also called on the relevant government ministries, departments and agencies to disclose the remedial actions they would take within 30 days to show responsibility and ensure public confidence. The government must make it mandatory for independent third-party experts to be roped in to monitor high-risk procurements under 'integrity pacts', involving civil society and professionals from the private sector, he said. Raymon also urged Putrajaya to table a comprehensive public procurement law that outlines transparency standards, penalties for non-compliance and clear procurement dispute mechanisms. 'The A-G's report must not be an annual ritual of regret. 'It must serve as a catalyst for reform, one that rebuilds institutional integrity, ensures justice for wrongdoing and protects the interests of the rakyat,' he said.
Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
SMM blasts ‘politically motivated' allegations surrounding viral photo, threatens legal action
Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd has refuted any wrongdoing arising from a photograph that has gone viral recently, saying it was taken during a working visit to Indonesia in August 2024. PETALING JAYA : Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) has threatened legal action against media outlets and others over the continued publication of 'false, misleading, and defamatory' allegations stemming from a now-viral photograph of its officials. In a statement addressing the photo which features current CEO Natasha Sim alongside several officials, the state-owned agency said: 'SMM unequivocally denies that any wrongdoing occurred.' It described the controversy as 'politically motivated' and part of a 'broader campaign to damage the company and its officers'. 'Should these baseless accusations continue to circulate, we will not hesitate to initiate legal action, including against media outlets for defamation and malicious falsehood,' the statement read. SMM noted that the allegations relate to an ongoing lawsuit involving Sim's predecessor, Jontih Enggihon, and businessman Albert Tei. The suit includes claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, tampering with official documents, and conspiracy to injure. 'The current wave of public allegations appears to recycle issues already under judicial scrutiny,' it said. It clarified that the photograph was taken during a working visit in August 2024 as part of foreign direct investment discussions with a mining conglomerate in Indonesia. The visit followed board approval in February 2024 and was led by Sim, then serving as chief strategy officer. It added that the first trip to the conglomerate's base had occurred in March 2023, and was initiated by Jontih as part of a due diligence exercise. The partnership was formally recommended to the board by Jontih in December 2023. On July 18, Malaysiakini reported that the now viral photograph had 'triggered a fresh political storm'. Apart from Sim, the photograph featured SMM secretary Emily Chong and Sabah timber tycoon Elbert Lim next to a private jet. The portal quoted Warisan assemblyman Justin Wong as claiming the photo had sparked a new scandal engulfing SMM.
