Najib's petition to UN 'entirely up to him', does not affect the judiciary, says CJ

PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD), in which he is seeking a release from prison or retrial of his SRC International case, does not affect the judiciary, says the Chief Justice (CJ).

CJ Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said that the action by former Pekan MP was "entirely up to him" after the Federal Court had delivered its decision.

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"Our job is done. We have discharged our responsibilities in terms of deciding on the case.

"Whatever he wants to do, whatever avenue he wants to explore, that is beyond us," she added.

The top judge was speaking at a press conference after attending the Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) 2023 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here on Monday (Jan 9).

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When asked if any decision by the UNWGAD would have a binding effect here in Malaysia, Tengku Maimun refused to comment further.

"(All I can say), the judiciary is not affected post the decision we deliver," she said.

On Jan 5, Najib's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah told the press that the defence team had sent a petition titled “Datuk Seri Najib Razak vs Malaysia” to UNWGAD on the same day.

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Najib is currently serving his 12-year prison sentence after the Federal Court affirmed his conviction and sentence in the SRC case.

According to Muhammad Shafee, Najib is asking the UNWGAD panel of five experts on international justice to rule that the dismissal of his appeal by the Federal Court on Aug 23 last year was unjust, flawed and had violated his basic human rights and the Federal Constitution.

Najib claimed that there were serious breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which Malaysia is a party to.