Pm Was Right Not To Answer About Najib S Addendum Hassan

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A PKR lawmaker has defended Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's refusal to confirm or deny the existence of a royal addendum giving former premier Najib Abdul Razak a reprieve via house arrest.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim - who is also a lawyer - said the premier's actions are in line with the separation of power principle as the case is pending at the Court of Appeal, with a hearing only slated in January.
"As the status of the appeal will be decided by the Court of Appeal, thus Anwar's answer (in Parliament) is right and accurate, that as a prime minister, head of the cabinet and executive, he can't precede the courts.
"Such is the principle of separation of power in practice in Malaysia," Hassan (above) said in a statement yesterday.
Najib's son Mohd Nizar and several Umno politicians claimed that the house arrest addendum, allegedly issued by the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong, is real.
However, the High Court had ruled the politicians' affidavits as hearsay, which led to Najib filing an appeal at the appellate court.
Sub judice
Last week, Anwar told Parliament that he couldn’t comment on the addendum just yet as it would be sub judice, pending the courts deciding on the case.
He also said he couldn’t comment on an Agong's decision without royal permission unless it has been decided by the courts.
However, he said he had suggested to the sitting king to deliberate on the matter with the Pardons Board.
Anwar's response received brickbats, with lawyer Latheefa Koya saying the prime minister should not hide behind the royal institution.
MCA president Wee Ka Siong said sub judice is no longer applicable because jury trials have been abolished from the legal system. - Mkini

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