KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is seeking to amend his travel dates to Singapore so he can assist Umno in the Melaka state election next month.
Najib, 68, had been allowed temporary access to his passport by the Court of Appeal on Oct 18 for him to travel to Singapore to visit his daughter Nooryana Najwa, who is due to deliver her second child.
In the amended notice of motion, Najib sought a court order to have his passport returned to him from Oct 25 until Dec 6.
In his initial application that was allowed by the court on Oct 18, Najib was to have access to his passport from Oct 20 and it should be returned by Nov 22.
The former Umno president said in his supporting affidavit that after obtaining the Court of Appeal’s approval, he was informed of the state election that would take place on Nov 20 while Nomination Day would be on Nov 8.
“Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be leaving for Germany for medical treatment during the said time and I have been entrusted to ensure Umno, during the Melaka state election, will proceed in an orderly and appropriate manner during Ahmad Zahid’s absence.
“Therefore, I have to postpone my trip to Singapore until after the state election finishes on Nov 20.
“During the time when I have to carry out my duty in Malaysia, I place my trust in my wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor who will go to Singapore first to monitor Nooryana’s condition while I am still in Malaysia.
“I will follow suit as soon as I complete my obligation here,” he said in his affidavit.
During an open court proceeding here yesterday, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that they had filed an application to amend the travel dates.
Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin said the prosecution would await instructions from the Attorney General.
High Court judge Justice Mohamed Zaini Mazlan then fixed next Tuesday for a hearing of the application.
On Oct 15, Justice Mohamed Zaini allowed Rosmah’s application for temporary access to her passport so she could travel to Singapore between Oct 22 and Nov 21.
She was ordered to return her passport to the court before or on Dec 6.
Rosmah is facing one charge of soliciting RM187.5mil and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5mil from Jepak Holdings’ former managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin, allegedly through her former aide Datuk Rizal Mansor as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure a solar hybrid project for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25bil from the Education Ministry through direct negotiation.
Najib is on trial for allegedly using his position to order amendments to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd final audit report before it was presented to the Public Accounts Committee to avoid any action being taken against him.
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