Anwar cannot stay silent on Najib house arrest, say observers
Government cannot afford to delay response to king’s order.
(The Vibes) – PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim must address the matter of an addendum order from the former king allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence at home, activists said.
They told The Vibes the government must come clean over the matter.
It was reported this week that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had issued an order for Najib’s house arrest.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed the existence of the addendum order. The deputy prime minister supported Najib’s claim in an affidavit filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on April 9.
Zahid said former Selangor Umno treasurer Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz showed him the document on his handphone at his house on January 30.
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) executive director Sevan Doraisamy said Anwar’s silence over the issue reflects badly on the government.
He said the government’s integrity is now in question.
“If the government is serious about fighting corruption, it must address the issue,” said Sevan.
“The government previously said that the people who are allowed house arrest are the elderly, pregnant women, children, and people convicted of minor offences, especially the poor.
“But to allow someone who has been found guilty of corruption involving millions of ringgit to serve house arrest, just because he is a politician, shows double standards. This can never be accepted,” he said.
