The federal government has been completely silent about a supposed additional document concerning former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Several leaders have confirmed the existence of this document, which was issued by the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong in January before his term ended.
The document states that Najib can serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest instead of being in Kajang Prison.
Although the government has not officially acknowledged the document’s existence all these months, Najib and his legal team knew about it.
As a result, the former prime minister filed a judicial review application that included the government as one of the respondents.
He is seeking a mandamus order, which means that if the addendum order exists, one or all of the respondents must carry out the royal order.
Only after Najib’s legal action did Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sign an affidavit confirming the existence of the addendum.
Zahid’s affidavit puts the prime minister and the Madani government in a difficult situation as he is the second-in-command.
This move is a calculated move on Zahid’s part, as he previously gained support from UMNO members and supporters who opposed Najib’s imprisonment.
Zahid called a special assembly at UMNO headquarters to address Najib’s imprisonment during the tenure of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail Sabri, a UMNO prime minister, was not present but faced criticism and blame for Najib’s situation.
Several other key UMNO leaders, who currently hold prominent positions in the government, were also present at the assembly but have remained silent about the addendum issue lately.
The prevailing opinion among UMNO members and those in the Bossku camp is that the current government is not interested in letting Najib off the hook.
Politically, having Najib out and about, even under house arrest, would pose a challenge to the Madani government, the prime minister, and UMNO leaders, as Najib still holds significant influence among party members, leaders and the public.
The government is now facing a dilemma regarding the addendum order. It has been unable to confirm its existence or decide whether to comply with the royal decree. It seems it is leaning towards ignoring it.
Last week, Anwar stated that he did not want to be involved in discussions about the alleged addendum order.
He believes it falls under the jurisdiction of the Pardons Board, and the ultimate power lies with the Agong or the Malay Rulers.
However, this might not be a wise move as the matter has become a matter of public interest. Ignoring the addendum, if it exists, would be a serious offence.
It would jeopardise Anwar’s relationship with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Malay rulers, and the government’s relationship with the palace.
Whether he likes it or not, Anwar has to address the issue and clarify the situation.
If the addendum exists, the government should acknowledge it and be transparent about whether it will implement it.
If there are concerns about its legitimacy, it should state its position and challenge it through proper channels.
Adopting a “wait and see” approach only undermines public confidence in terms of transparency and portrays the government as indecisive.
Ultimately, the responsibility now lies with Anwar and political considerations play a significant role.
It is no secret that those in the Pakatan Harapan camp are not keen on the idea of Najib being released.
However, we must not underestimate the importance of UMNO, the party that went to great lengths to support Najib, in preventing the collapse of the Madani government. UMNO has proven to be tactically adept.
Nevertheless, while Anwar and his government managed to deflect much of the blame during Najib’s partial pardon saga, they might not be able to escape responsibility this time. Anwar needs to take a stand.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
