KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has urged the government to immediately implement the royal decree allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the coalition viewed seriously the developments surrounding the postponement of the implementation of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia's decree on the matter.
He said the issue should not be treated merely as an administrative matter or a difference in legal interpretation, as it involved greater questions concerning respect for the constitutional monarchy, the authority of His Majesty's decree and the rule of law.
"These are fundamental principles that form the foundation of the country's system of governance," he said in a statement on Saturday (Nov 7).
Zambry also said the statement issued by Istana Negara on Saturday should be given serious attention.
He noted that the Palace had reaffirmed that the conditional pardon order was clear, explicit and contained no ambiguity, adding that all the stipulated conditions had been fulfilled.
More importantly, he said, the Palace's warning that any arguments disputing the order would amount to disobeying His Majesty's decree should serve as a serious reminder to all parties.
"This is particularly important for those entrusted with the responsibility of implementing the decisions and decrees," he said.
Zambry urged the government, particularly the relevant authorities, to take the Palace's statement seriously and ensure that the order was implemented immediately, in an orderly manner and in accordance with the Federal Constitution.
He stressed that the matter required the authorities to uphold their responsibilities in respecting and implementing the royal decree.
