Is Najib a.k.a. 'Merpati' a bird in a gilded cage, asks Syed Saddiq

PETALING JAYA: The authorities should clarify whether or not Datuk Seri Najib Razak is getting special treatment even as a prisoner, says Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

"So the claims about 'Merpati' are true?" Syed Saddiq asked in a tweet Wednesday (Sept 21), referring to an anonymous message on social media referring to Najib by the codename "Merpati" (pigeon).

"If there was no information leak, would there be any statement from the Prisons Department?" the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president added.

ALSO READ: Najib now being treated at Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital

Among other claims, the viral message alleged that Najib’s cell in the Kajang Prison complex had been renovated and there were plans to move him to the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH) to allow more access to visitors and VVIP facilities.

The Prisons Department statement issued earlier in the day said Najib was currently being treated and monitored at CRH after being referred there by Hospital Kuala Lumpur on Monday (Sept 19).

“He will be sent back to Kajang Prison to (continue serving) his sentence as soon as medical experts give him clearance,” the department said.

Najib is serving a 12-year sentence in Kajang Prison following the Federal Court’s decision on Aug 23 to uphold his corruption conviction involving RM42mil of SRC International funds.