When Did Legal System Abolish Sub Judice Rule Anwar S Aide Asks Wee

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An aide to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has questioned MCA president Wee Ka Siong’s contrasting stance regarding issues surrounding former premier Najib Abdul Razak’s prison sentence.
Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim found it odd that Wee was not as outspoken when the former Umno president was serving his sentence during Ismail Sabri Yaakob's tenure as prime minister.
"We understand that this may be one of Wee's attempts to stay relevant in the eyes of certain parties by continuously pressuring the prime minister (to confirm the royal addendum's existence), even though he (Anwar) had already given a detailed explanation.
"Has Wee forgotten that Najib was imprisoned during Ismail Sabri's time? And at that time, he (Wee) was not as vocal in defending Najib," Kamil (above) told Malaysiakini today.
He added that as a former cabinet member, Wee should respect the laws.
"This is a country of law. There is a process and regulations. Therefore, respect this process," he said.
Yesterday, Wee argued that the sub judice rule no longer applies in the case of the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s addendum concerning Najib, as jury trials have been abolished in Malaysia’s legal system.
He pointed out that judges, not juries selected from the public, are solely the ones to make court decisions.
MCA president Wee Ka SiongWee quoted former attorney-general Tommy Thomas who said that the sub judice principle does not exist in Malaysia because there is no jury system.
Anwar previously informed the Dewan Rakyat that he could not answer questions regarding the additional decree from Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah in Najib’s case, as parliamentary rules prohibit discussions on sub judice matters, and there is no royal consent from the sitting Agong.
‘Desperate move?’
Kamil challenged the Ayer Hitam MP to clarify when the sub judice rule was abolished.
"Since when has the sub judice rule been abolished in the legal system of this country?
"Did Thomas, as the AG at that time, abolish the sub judice rule, and did Wee choose to adopt Thomas’ view over the current AG’s opinion in his attempt to pressure the prime minister to continue commenting on an ongoing trial?
"Is Wee so desperate that he has to reinterpret the law to suit his own agenda?" he said.
PM Anwar IbrahimAnwar’s political secretary further pointed out that even the Pahang palace chose to respect the court proceedings and not issue any further statements.
However, Wee appeared to be acting like he was more knowledgeable than the situation required, Kamil quipped.
Najib was initially sentenced to a 12-year prison sentence and a RM210 million fine for corruption related to the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
However, the Federal Territory Pardons Board halved it to six years in prison and a RM50 million fine earlier in January. The former premier is serving his reduced sentence at the Kajang Prison. - Mkini

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