Santhara’s 55-day trip to NZ was morally wrong, Najib tells court

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the Sessions Court here that the 55-day visit to New Zealand by the former deputy Federal Territories minister, Datuk Seri Dr Edmund Santhara Kumar, during the Covid-19 pandemic was morally wrong.

The former premier said Santhara Kumar should have sacrificed his holiday and returned for the rakyat as the virus hit the whole nation.

Najib, the defendant’s third witness, said this when queried by lawyer Dinesh Muthal representing Batu MP, P. Prabakaran, during the hearing of a defamation suit filed by Santhara Kumar against Prabakaran.

“I don’t think it was morally right for anyone (politician) to take a holiday for 55 days, especially during the pandemic time ... Many people are waving white flags because they need food and help. If I were in this situation, I would have cut short my holiday and I would find the next flight to come back,” said Najib.

Santhara Kumar filed the suit on June 23, 2021, against Prabakaran for allegedly uttering defamatory words on his visit to New Zealand in 2020.

Based on his statement of claim, Sathara Kumar claimed Prabakaran had held a press conference outside the New Zealand High Commission on March 17, 2021, between 9.30am and 2pm and issued untrue and false information on his responsibilities as a deputy minister.

Santhara Kumar claimed Prabakaran or his representative had submitted a memorandum to the New Zealand High Commission criticising the approval and permission given to him to visit New Zealand.

Recalling his Hawaii trip in 2014, Najib said he had to cut short his vacation due to massive floods in the country, despite his family pleading for him to continue (holidaying).

When questioned by Santhara Kumar’s counsel N. Krishnan Nair, Najib insisted that Santhara Kumar was part of the government and he should inform the rakyat of his whereabouts before he left the country.

Krishnan Nair: Datuk Seri, do you agree that when the deputy minister (Santhara Kumar) was not around, the rakyat can seek assistance from the minister or other relevant departments?

Najib: I think you missed the point. He (Santhara Kumar) was part of the government. Thus, he can’t say the minister was there, so he can take 55-day leave.

Santhara Kumar is seeking exemplary, aggravated and compensatory damages, and for a statement of apology and retraction to be published in three local Malay, English and Tamil newspapers and uploaded on Prabakaran’s Facebook and YouTube accounts.

On Sept 8, 2021, through a statement of defence, Prabakaran claimed that the statements he issued did not have any malicious intent to tarnish the image or reputation of the plaintiff.

The hearing before Sessions Court judge Zulqarnain Hassan continues today. — Bernama