PM: Let's be clear, govt will not interfere in Najib's case

KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no political interference with the judicial system in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's case, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Prime Minister said the matter of granting a pardon was within the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and not Umno.

"The government is consistent... it will not interfere with the judicial system. This is clear," he told reporters after launching the Media City Complex at Angkasapuri here on Wednesday (Oct 26).

Ismail Sabri was asked to comment on social media speculation that Najib would be pardoned and be Pekan MP again if Barisan Nasional and Umno won the 15th General Election (GE15).

He stressed that Najib's lawyers had done their work in filing an application for the Federal Court to review its Aug 23 decision, and filing for a Royal pardon.

"The court will make a decision and we will allow the judiciary to come up with its own conclusions," said Ismail Sabri.

He added that the Pardons Board would also make its own decision on Najib's case.

"Umno has no power (to do such things), and we respect the judicial system.

"Umno has no power to simply release anyone," said Ismail Sabri, who is also the party's vice-president.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210mil after he was convicted on seven charges brought against him for abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust over SRC International funds amounting to RM42mil.

He is currently serving his sentence in Kajang Prison after the Federal Court upheld the verdict.

On a separate matter, Ismail Sabri appealed to students to keep the tablets they received under the Peranti Siswa programme after cases emerged of the devices purportedly being sold online.

"Previously, we only wanted to loan (the devices) out, but we (decided to) give them away outright as the government has good intentions, to make it easier for them to study.

"So the students do not have to return their tablets as it will be burdensome to them.

"However, they need to take care of the devices properly," he added.

Asked if any students found to be selling their tablets will be blacklisted, Ismail Sabri said the matter had yet to be discussed with the Higher Education Ministry.

"I beg the students not to go for short-term profit by selling the tablets... these are for your long-term benefit," he said.

Social media users are upset that tablets meant for lower-income students of higher education institutions are reportedly being sold in online marketplaces.

The outrage follows the circulation of several screenshots of tablets being sold at between RM800 and RM1,100.