Azalina Zaliha Should Answer On Najib S Addendum Says Khairy

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Khairy Jamaluddin expressed concern about a growing ‘crisis of trust’ within Umno, particularly among party members loyal to Najib Razak.
PETALING JAYA: Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says ministers Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Azalina Othman Said should speak up on the purported royal addendum allowing former prime minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.
Khairy said both of them are “directly responsible” in the matter.
“I respect (home minister) Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for saying the prisons department didn’t get the addendum. But there are two ministers who are directly responsible,” he said in the latest episode of his “Keluar Sekejap” podcast.
He pointed to Zaliha, the federal territories minister, and her role in the Federal Territories Pardons Board, saying “she must have known about it” even though the addendum was not within the board’s purview.
He also said Azalina must have been informed about the order as law and institutional reform minister, “through her relationship with the attorney-general”.
“There was no way the AG didn’t inform the law minister.
“As a former minister, I know the AG has a relationship with the law minister,” he said, adding that while the attorney-general technically reports to the prime minister, “communication with the law minister is essential”.
Khairy also expressed concern about a growing “crisis of trust” within Umno, particularly among party members loyal to Najib.
He said this faction felt there was a lack of commitment from the party leadership about fully supporting Najib in his legal struggles.
“The camp supporting party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is now making it sound like the president was the first to sign the affidavit for Najib.
“But Najib’s supporters in Umno feel there is no seriousness from the party,” he said.
On Monday, Najib obtained leave to begin judicial review proceedings to compel the government to execute a supplementary decree said to have been issued by the former king allowing him to serve the rest of his jail term under house arrest.
Najib’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, submitted a letter from the comptroller of the Pahang royal household confirming the existence of the addendum issued by the former king.
Khairy also commented on former minister Zaid Ibrahim’s call for Azalina, Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to resign over the issue.
“I feel this is a little too extreme. Yes, they have to answer on this issue but in terms of politics, I feel this is not a threat to Anwar’s leadership. I feel he will survive,” he said.
However, he said the controversy has left Anwar politically weakened.
“Anwar is safe, but wounded. He is tainted by the addendum issue, and even Umno now has doubts about Pakatan Harapan,” he said.
Khairy also said Sarawak’s growing political influence has compounded Anwar’s vulnerabilities.
He pointed to Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg’s recent assurance that Anwar would remain prime minister until the end of his term.
“Abang Johari said Anwar would stay on because, firstly, he wants political stability. But secondly, it’s because he has Anwar exactly where he wants him – wounded, weak and in need of Sarawak’s support,” he said. - FMT

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