PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said clarified that Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement referred to the position of Members of Parliament from the Barisan Nasional bloc regarding the gag order issue, in adherence to Standing Order 36(2).
"This rule states that members are not allowed to discuss matters under judicial consideration (sub judice) in a manner that could prejudice the interests of the parties involved in the case," she explained in a statement on Saturday (Feb 8).
She emphasised that the decision relates to restrictions on debating the Royal Adendum in the Dewan Rakyat, and Zahid's statement should be understood in this context, not as the Government's stance on the gag order in general.
"The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) should not have filed a gag order request, as the Royal Addendum is already publicly known," she said.
On Feb 4, Ahmad Zahid expressed gratitude to Azalina for coordinating the gag order related to the Royal Addendum on Najib.
Azalina was previously reported as saying that the gag order should not have been issued, as it would be discussed again in the Dewan Rakyat during the February parliamentary session.
On Monday (Feb 3), Najib's defence lawyer Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee confirmed that the AGC had filed the application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seek the gag order.
The order aims to prevent any party, including the media, from publishing or disseminating any form of communication—whether in print, electronic, digital, or on social media platforms.
It also seeks to prohibit statements, comments, or discussions that cast doubt on, question, challenge, or insult the prerogative powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
