Royal Addendum Govt Files For Gag Order

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The government has filed an application for a gag order over former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's house arrest judicial review linked to an alleged royal addendum.
Najib's counsel Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee confirmed with Malaysiakini that the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) filed the application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court at around 7.45 tonight.
Previously, it was reported that the government would seek a gag order from the civil court over the entire proceedings.
According to a copy of the application that Malaysiakini sighted, the government sought the gag order to restrain any party, including the media, from publishing, broadcasting, or disseminating anything related to the ongoing judicial review.
The applicant sought the gag order over the dissemination that could cause public discussion and speculation that trigger doubt, questioning, challenging or insulting against the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The applicant also sought the order over dissemination that could raise speculation and statements that could jeopardise the credibility and integrity of the decisions, functions and powers of the Pardons Board chaired by the Agong.
If the civil court allows the gag order, it would prevent not just the media from reporting the case but also restrain any member of the judiciary and lawyers directly dealing in the civil action from sharing with the public copies of confidential documents linked to the case.
Najib's judicial review seeks the implementation of an alleged royal addendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his six-year jail sentence under house arrest.
Najib granted leave
Last July, the High Court denied leave for Najib to commence the judicial review on reasons that the supporting affidavits by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail were hearsay.
However, the Court of Appeal recently reversed this ruling and granted leave to Najib's civil action. The judge ordered the matter be reverted to the Kuala Lumpur High Court to hear the merits of the judicial review.
The appellate court also allowed Najib to rely on his son Nizar's affidavit, whereby Nizar claimed the Pahang palace confirmed the addendum existed.
On Jan 29 last year, the Pardons Board issued royal advice for Najib's 12-year jail sentence to be halved to six years and his RM210 million fine reduced to RM50 million.
However, the former finance minister claimed there was also a supplementary royal decree allowing him house arrest.
The sentence is in relation to the RM42 million SRC International abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering case. - Mkini

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