KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak claims that the speech by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during the recent PKR special convention is the strongest evidence of the addendum order by the former King allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The incarcerated former prime minister made this contention in his latest affidavit to support his judicial review application to compel the government to produce the addendum dated Jan 29.
He also included footage of Anwar's speech together with the transcript which was held at Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam on April 21.
Najib claimed Anwar, who is the prime minister, in his speech did not mention the main order but subtly questioned the validity of the addendum order without explicitly naming it.
Najib asserted that the Tambun member of parliament referred to an affidavit that was filed by his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to support Najib's judicial review application.
The Umno president had claimed that Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz showed him a copy of the addendum order on his phone on Jan 30, which he personally photographed or scanned from an original copy as shown to him by the former King.
Najib claimed the prime minister in his speech said the validity of this "order" (without specifically naming it) was questionable as it was not discussed during the Pardons Board meeting when the King was in charge.
"It is clear from the speech that Anwar was erroneously advised by the Attorney-General that such an order could not have been valid unless specifically discussed and advised during the Pardons Board proceedings.
"Most importantly, the speech strengthens my counsel's argument that if the prime minister found it appropriate to avoid discussing the legality of such an addendum order, why not simply deny its existence if it truly did not exist?
"Thus, the prime minister tacitly acknowledged the existence of the addendum order," claimed Najib.
On April 21, Anwar in his speech said any decision regarding the alleged addendum order granting house arrest to Najib must be made in the meeting of the Pardons Board.
Anwar added he would not interfere in the matter, despite being criticised for doing nothing.
On Jan 29, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, which the then King presided over, halved Najib's 12-year jail sentence for abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in the SRC International case, and reduced his RM210 million fine to RM50 million.
Najib in his judicial review application to the High Court on April 1, claimed the then King issued an addendum order — also on Jan 29 — allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.
He named the Home Minister, Prison Department commissioner general, Attorney-General (AG), Federal Territories Pardons Board, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Legal Affairs Division director-general, and the government as respondents.
