Former Umno minister Khairy Jamaluddin has brought attention to a purportedly deepening crisis of trust in his former party over the royal addendum linked to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Speaking on the latest episode of his Keluar Sekejap podcast, Khairy accused Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said of being complicit in concealing the addendum.
“The letter – the addendum – was submitted to the attorney-general (AG). There’s no way the AG didn’t inform the direct line minister, who is the law minister,” he asserted.
When podcast co-host Shahril Hamdan noted Azalina’s claim in Parliament that the AG had not reported to her, Khairy retorted sarcastically, “Malaysians are not born yesterday.”
“You, as the law minister, have a connection with the AG.
“Technically, one could say that the AG only reports to or directly informs the prime minister. However, as far as I know, as a former minister, of course the AG has a relationship or professional relationship where they would inform the minister of law about what is happening,” Khairy elaborated.
He also called out Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) and PKR lawmaker Dr Zaliha Mustafa, urging her to speak up.
“It’s impossible that the cabinet is unaware of this matter. I believe these two ministers bear responsibility, but they’ve remained silent.
“I salute Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution (Ismail). At least, even though he once said it was hearsay – perhaps he was instructed by the prime minister in an effort to throw Saifuddin under the bus – to say that the Prison Department didn’t receive the addendum.
“At least Saifuddin has the bravery to give a statement,” he added.
Yesterday, Zaliha told the media that the Pardons Board’s meeting minutes regarding Najib would remain confidential.
On Monday (Jan 6), the Court of Appeal allowed Najib to seek a judicial review to enforce a decree by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, ordering the former Umno president to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.
The Pahang palace has also confirmed the existence of the royal addendum following an affidavit filed by Najib’s son, Nizar, on Dec 5.
Khairy further claimed that Najib’s supporters within Umno are at the heart of the trust deficit.
“(Najib’s supporters) might ask why the addendum was hidden and not verified earlier. Of course, the (Umno) president (Zahid)’s camp is spreading the word that the president is the first person to have made an affidavit regarding this addendum.
“But that is only a few months after the story of the addendum emerged,” he added.
He accused Zahid of delaying action, exacerbating the party’s internal rift.
“We see that there are various opinions in Umno. The view of those in Umno in Putrajaya, or Umno Level 38, is uncertain.”
Level 38 is the floor that the Umno supreme council meeting room is on in the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
Khairy alleged that Umno members in key positions were complicit in concealing the addendum and accused Zahid of attempting to position himself as a saviour figure.
“Whether saviour to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim or Bossku (Najib), he (Zahid) wants to be the saviour,” he remarked.
The addendum supplements the main Pardons Board decision which reduced Najib’s initial 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine to a six-year custodial term and RM50 million fine.
Najib’s sentence stems from his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust (CBT), and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International, a former subsidiary of the scandal-ridden 1MDB sovereign wealth fund. – Malaysiakini