Umno seeks A-GC explanation over delay in Najib's house arrest

Kuala Lumpur: The Umno party has requested the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to quickly clarify the legal reasoning behind potentially delaying former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's house arrest. Azalina Othman Said, Umno's information chief, emphasized that the party still values the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's power to grant pardons under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.

Azalina stated that Umno adheres to the High Court order for Najib's house arrest and respects the conditional pardon decree, which has been acknowledged as paid. The High Court has also issued an order, and Najib's residence has been designated as a prison under the Prisons Act 1995.

Azalina explained that the payment of the RM50 million fine was a prerequisite for the house arrest to commence. She questioned why the issue of interpretation was only brought up publicly after the payment was recorded and the court order was issued. Given the AGC's role within the Pardons Board process under Article 42, Umno believes it is crucial to receive an explanation regarding when the interpretation question was identified and how it was handled, all while adhering to legal requirements and maintaining confidentiality.

Earlier, Umno confirmed that the payment process was completed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court this morning, as required for Najib to serve his sentence under house arrest. However, Najib's legal team, Shafee and Co, reported that he has not yet been released from Kajang Prison to serve his house arrest sentence, as the release process was reportedly underway when the AGC made its statement.