KUALA LUMPUR —Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa has denied issuing a press statement on a royal addendum order for Datuk Ser Najib Razak’s house arrest.
She threatened legal action against those who created the fake statement, which claims that she as the minister in the Federal Territory Pardons Board confirmed the addendum order by former king, Pahang Sultan Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was legitimate.
“This media statement is false and was never issued by me.
“This is an irresponsible act. I will take legal action against whoever issued and spread this false media statement, Zaliha said in a post on X.
The fake statement was dated today and was circulated on social media just a day after Najib’s defence team told the Court of Appeal hearing his house arrest bid yesterday of new evidence involving the Pahang Sultan.
Najib has filed an application to adduce fresh evidence in the appellate court to prove the existence of an addendum order allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.
As a result of this, the court yesterday postponed its hearing of his appeal for leave to allow the prosecution more time to review and verify the new evidence.
Outside court yesterday, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the media that the new evidence was a supplementary affidavit filed by Najib’s son, Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib, who claimed that the Pahang Ruler had given the addendum order document to him.
Nizar is a Pahang state exco member and Peramu Jaya assemblyman.
Shafee said this new information was received on Dec 2, and an application to submit it as evidence was filed the following day.
Najib is contending that there exists a royal addendum order for him to service the remainder of his prison sentence for corruption in the SRC International case under house arrest, alongside the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s decision to halve his imprisonment from 12 years to six.
His fine was also reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
The former prime minister is currently serving his jail sentence at the Kajang Prison. – December 6, 2024
