Putrajaya police reject application for Najib’s solidarity rally

PETALING JAYA: Police have rejected an application to hold a solidarity rally in support of former prime minister Najib Razak, planned to take place at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on Monday.

Putrajaya police chief Aidi Sham Mohamed confirmed receiving the application for the rally on Dec 31.

“We found that the application was incomplete, and the police have denied approval for the said rally,” he said.

The organisers were notified of the rejection on Jan 3.

Aidi said 456 police personnel will be on duty at the Palace of Justice and its surrounding areas on Monday.

It was reported that a rally will be held on the same day that the Court of Appeal hears Najib’s application on a purported supplementary decree placing him under house arrest.

Najib claims the order was issued in a supplementary decree to a Feb 2 announcement by the Federal Territories Pardons Board, which halved his jail term from 12 years to six and reduced his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.

He is currently serving the jail sentence at Kajang prison following his conviction for corruption in the SRC International case.

Umno announced yesterday that it will not take part in the rally.

The party’s secretary-general, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, cited a statement by the palace regarding pardons or sentence reductions for convicted prisoners.

“Umno has decided not to proceed with the gathering on Jan 6,” he said.

Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain also urged the public not to take part in any gathering organised by any party, out of respect for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In its statement, Istana Negara reminded all parties to respect the Federal Constitution and uphold the rule of law with regard to the granting of pardon or the reduction of a sentence for prisoners.

PAS said, however, “busloads” of Najib’s supporters will gather in Putrajaya on Monday morning.