KOTA KINABALU: Seven PKR branch heads from Sabah have lodged a police report against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over alleged negligence which they claim left the country exposed to hefty claims from the so-called heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate.
The branch heads comprised Datuk Christina Liew (Kota Kinabalu), Peto Galim (Inanam), Mustapha Sakmud (Kota Belud), Mohammad Razeef Rakimin (Tuaran), Dikin Musah (Beaufort), Roslee Malik (Papar) and Ag Chuchu Amin (Kimanis).
Mohammad represented the heads in lodging the police report at the Karamunsing Police Station on Thursday (July 21).
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A lawsuit by the heirs was initiated following the Najib administration's 2013 decision to stop annual payments to them as required by an earlier agreement. As a result of their action, a Paris arbitration court awarded the heirs RM63bil.
In a joint media statement after lodging the report, Mohammad said Najib should have ensured that all measures had been taken to prevent and address follow-up legal action after the payment was stopped.
He said Najib’s failure to do so was negligent on his part as the then prime minister.
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"The decision triggered a retaliatory move by these heirs who initiated international lawsuits against the Malaysian government. Notice of the summons action (taken) was sent to Najib's administration on Nov 2, 2017 when he was still prime minister,” he said.
Mohammad said as concerned Malaysian citizens, the branch heads urged the authorities to investigate Najib under the provisions of the existing Criminal Code (Act 574) and regulations binding on a civil servant while in service.
He cited several regulations such as Article 132 (Public Services) and Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993 under the Federal Constitution (PUA 395) to determine the elements of negligence allegedly committed by Najib in addressing this issue.
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“We hope that this report would allow an investigation paper to be opened to ensure that civil servants carry out their duties thoroughly, transparently and without negligence (so as to not be) detrimental to the interests of the people and the country,” he said.
"We fully support PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday for the Prime Minister or Foreign Minister to give a detailed report in Parliament on this issue so that Malaysians can better understand the history of the Sulu claim,” Mohammad said.
He said this was necessary for the people to know the steps taken by the Federal Government in safeguarding the sovereignty of Sabah.
