Addendum issue casts doubt on Anwar’s ability to head govt, says PAS

PETALING JAYA: PAS has cast doubt on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ability to lead the government, citing his management of the controversy over a royal addendum said to provide for Najib Razak to serve a jail sentence under house arrest.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan questioned the timing of Anwar’s admission of the existence of the addendum, and accused the prime minister and his government of having avoided the topic for nearly a year.

Takiyuddin also said Anwar, or the relevant ministry or agency, should have issued an official statement on the matter after the disclosure of a Pahang palace letter on the existence of the addendum, rather than having the prime minister comment on it at a public event.

The addendum was to a pardons board decision, announced on Feb 2, to commute the sentence imposed on Najib for abuse of power and corruption in the SRC International case.

Anwar, speaking in Penang on Saturday, said the addendum had been sent to the attorney-general, who then forwarded it to Istana Negara as there was a change of Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Jan 31 last year.

Takiyuddin said it appeared as though the issue did not deserve special attention from the government, even though it involved the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the sultan of Pahang, the attorney-general and the court.

“As a government that often touts the importance of good and efficient governance, the failure to respond professionally and transparently in this issue is unacceptable,” he said in a statement.

Takiyuddin, who is MP for Kota Bharu, accused Anwar of being careless and apathetic about the issue from the start.

“All the weaknesses, confusion and legal chaos that have occurred and have the potential to occur regarding this issue … raise serious questions about the prime minister’s qualifications to remain as the leader of the government,” he added.

Anwar maintained that the government did not hide the addendum and said he did not want to publicly comment on the matter previously as it involved the current Agong and his predecessor.

Takiyuddin contended that the addendum should have been implemented by the government as soon as it was received by the attorney-general.

He said the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was still in office when the addendum was issued. Failure to carry out his command would amount to an act of treason, said Takiyuddin.

Takiyuddin’s statement also raised legal and constitutional issues over the addendum, which followed a pardons board decision announced on Feb 2 to commute Najib’s sentence in the SRC International case.

He argued that Anwar’s explanation about the attorney-general’s action exposed the government to a conflict of law and the constitution, and contended that the attorney-general’s opinion on the king’s power to pardon was in conflict with two Federal Court decisions in 1988.