PETALING JAYA: Umno is appealing to His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia’s goodwill for a full pardon for Datuk Seri Najib Razak, after the incarcerated former prime minister’s successful bid at the Court of Appeal.
In an immediate reaction after the court's decision on Monday (Jan 6), Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also expressed gratitude to the Pahang Sultan and former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for the confirmation on the existence of the royal addendum.
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Ahmad Zahid said the confirmation on the existence and authenticity of the royal addendum supports both his and Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail’s affidavits in affirmation of Najib's claim that there was a royal addendum issued that would allow him to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest.
“Umno respects the ongoing legal process and will continue to fight for justice for Najib,” the Deputy Prime Minister said in a statement.
“Umno would like to appeal to His Majesty the Yang-di Pertuan Agong for his goodwill, wisdom and justness to grant full pardon to Najib in line with His Majesty's prerogative powers under Articles 42(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also expressed his appreciation to Umno members and loyal supporters for their unwavering support.
Earlier, in a majority decision, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court's dismissal of Najib's application for leave to initiate judicial review over the prison time imposed on him in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
ALSO READ: One step forward, says Najib after succeeding in appeal
Justice Mohd Firuz Jaffril, who read the majority decision, said the issue of hearsay could no longer stand with the new evidence adduced in a supporting affidavit filed by Najib's son Datuk Mohd Nizar.
He said a judicial review application only needed to show that the applicant has a case to argue, premised on the fact that the applicant's interests or rights had been aggrieved and that the application was not frivolous or vexatious.
"We are therefore minded to allow this appeal. We order the case to be remitted to the High Court for the hearing of the substantive judicial review," he said.
The other judge in the majority decision is Justice Azhahari Kamal Ramli.
The court also allowed Najib's application to adduce new evidence in the form of a letter from the Majlis Kesultanan Pahang, which is now admissible through Nizar's supporting affidavit.
A letter signed by the Comptroller of the Pahang Sultan's Household Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman to Nizar also confirmed the existence of a royal addendum to Najib's royal pardon.
