PUTRAJAYA: The government did not conceal the royal addendum to allow former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the rest of his six-year sentence under house arrest, says Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil (pic).
"With regards to the document in question, to be honest, it was not hidden.
"As the Communications Minister, I have neither received, seen nor been informed about the document," Fahmi, who is also government spokesman, told reporters at the post-Cabinet meeting press conference in Putrajaya on Wednesday (Jan 8)
"I believe this is because it involves the Pardons Board.
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"We are also aware that the Court of Appeal has decided to remit this case back to the High Court.
"So, we need to seek the view and advice of the Attorney General on several matters to ensure that the proceedings are not prejudiced," said Fahmi.
He added that the government is guided by processes taking place in the courts.
"As the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) explained during the Question Time in Parliament, we are bound by the principle of sub judice.
"Therefore, we respect and adhere to that principle and the court process has been carried out accordingly," he said.
On Tuesday (Jan 7) Opposition politicians questioned if there had been a deliberate attempt to conceal the existence of the royal addendum.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin claimed that the Court of Appeal decision "proved" that certain parties intentionally tried to hide the royal addendum.
"Defying, concealing or denying the royal decree is a huge (act of) treachery to the King and the nation," he said in a statement.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the Home Ministry and the Prisons Department did not receive any addendum order related to the former prime minister.
He said the ministry and the department only executed the directive they received in a letter after the Pardons Board meeting.
