KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said does not sit on the Federal Territories Pardons Board, according to the ministry’s Legal Affairs Division.
The Legal Affairs Division referred to Article 42 (11) of the Federal Constitution, stating that the Federal Territories Pardons Board comprises the Federal Territories Minister and others.
"The Federal Territories Minister is a member of the Federal Territories Pardons Board. Therefore, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) isn’t a member of the Pardons Board, nor was it involved in any matters involving the Pardons Board," stated the Legal Affairs Division on Monday (Nov 11).
It added that the Legal Affairs Division and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) are responsible for coordinating matters of the Federal Territories Pardons Board.
"It reports directly only to the Federal Territories Minister as the Minister in charge," the Legal Affairs Division added.
On Monday (Nov 11), Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) sought clarification from Azalina on her remarks about her non-involvement in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s alleged addendum that allows the former premier to serve the remainder of his six-year jail term under house arrest.
Azalina clarified that as the minister in charge of law, she is not involved with the appointment of the AG, does not handle his files, nor is she part of the Pardons Board, which includes the Federal Territories Minister.
The Court of Appeal has scheduled Dec 5 to hear Najib’s appeal over the dismissal of his leave application for a judicial review regarding the alleged addendum on house arrest.
