Mengapa isu tafsiran dibangkitkan selepas bayaran, soal Umno

Umno has raised concerns over the interpretation of the bail issue involving Najib Razak, prompting the state counsel to clarify when the issue of interpretation arose and how it was handled. Given that the state counsel plays a significant role in the pardon process, Azalina Othman Said, Umno's Head of Public Relations, emphasized the need to explain why the issue of interpretation emerged after the payment of the fine was recorded and the court's order issued.

Umno respects the counsel's position as the primary legal advisor to the government and urged the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to provide a comprehensive legal explanation for the delay in implementing the home detention of Najib, as recorded in a RM50 million fine, and the issuance of a court order. Azalina stated that Umno takes the matter seriously and acknowledged that a RM50 million fine had been recorded, leading to the issuance of a court order and the declaration of Najib's residence as a prison.

She stressed that conditional pardons and the court's order must be respected and adhered to according to the law. Earlier, the law firm Shafee & Co stated that a meeting of the pardon committee on September 18 was the appropriate forum for the state counsel to raise any concerns about the terms of the pardon order. They also noted that the AGC has no power to delay the prerogative of mercy and any issues related to the court's order must be brought before the court.

This development follows the statement by Farhan Shafee, Najib's counsel, that the court issued a home detention order against his client as a result of the resolution of the RM50 million fine payment issue. Umno had previously stated that it had settled the fine imposed on its former president. Najib was imprisoned in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld convictions for abuse of power, misconduct in a public office, and money laundering involving the RM42 million SRC International fund.

He received a 12-year prison sentence and a RM210 million fine. In January 2024, the royal pardon reduced half of his prison term and the fine to RM50 million. In September 2024, another conditional pardon was granted to Najib, allowing him to serve the remaining portion of his sentence in home detention until August 23, 2028, provided he settles the RM50 million fine and complies with the stipulated conditions.