No need for Anwar to resign over addendum order, says PKR MP

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim does not need to resign over a purported addendum order allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, says a PKR MP.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim said the Court of Appeal’s ruling today clearly showed that the principle of separation of powers is functioning well in Malaysia, especially as Anwar has repeatedly explained that neither the government nor himself can interfere with court proceedings and judges’ decisions.

Earlier today, the Court of Appeal granted Najib leave to begin judicial review proceedings to compel the government to execute an addendum order issued by the former king allowing him to serve the rest of his jail term in the SRC International case under house arrest.

Hassan, who is a lawyer by training, said the attorney-general or a representative from the Attorney-General’s Chambers should provide answers as to the existence of such an addendum in court, adding that the matter was raised by one of the judges at the appellate court today.

He noted that Justice Firuz Jaffril questioned the AGC’s silence on the matter after pointing out that the AGC did not file any affidavits to deny or challenge the existence of the royal order.

“This failure by the AGC should not be placed on Anwar’s shoulders,” said Hassan.

“Do we want Anwar to interfere in the professional work of the government’s lawyers and the AGC? Surely, we do not want the prime minister to be required to go to such lengths.

“Therefore, Anwar is not in the wrong. He does not need to resign as prime minister, as some parties have demanded.

“On the contrary, his stance of respecting judicial independence in the matter of the addendum order should be respected and praised.”

Earlier today, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari demanded Anwar’s resignation after stating that the denial of the addendum order’s existence reflected the government’s dishonesty and was a serious violation of Najib’s right to a fair trial and justice.

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin has also accused Anwar of concealing the addendum, claiming that it amounted to treason against the monarchy and the nation.

In the Court of Appeal hearing today, Firuz said Najib had, after a High Court hearing in July, obtained a copy of the addendum from the Pahang ruler, who was the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

During submissions, lawyer Shafee Abdullah said Najib’s son, Nizar, had filed another affidavit two days ago claiming that the comptroller of the Pahang royal household had confirmed the existence of the addendum order and verified its authenticity.

Firuz said the High Court’s findings that Najib’s affidavits were based on hearsay evidence could no longer stand following the new evidence adduced by Najib.