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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright April 2024
In a bizarre twist of events, Umno President and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed the existence of an addendum order that allows former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. This revelation raises serious questions about the absurdity of Zahid's position and the Anwar government's handling of the situation.
Zahid claims to have seen the addendum order, which was allegedly shown to him by former Selangor Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz. According to Zahid, the order, dated January 29, 2024, and sealed with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's signature, allows Najib to serve his sentence under house arrest instead of in prison.
One cannot help but wonder why this document was not revealed when Najib's pardon was announced. Najib's lead counsel, Shafee Abdullah, has rightly questioned why the government is concealing the addendum order and not enforcing it as directed by the Agong.
The absurdity reaches new heights when considering Zahid's role in the Madani government. As the deputy prime minister and Umno president, Zahid's actions and decisions directly impact the government. His decision to support Najib's application through an affidavit has not only placed the government in a difficult position but has also drawn it into a political quagmire.
The government cannot simply wash its hands of this matter by claiming that Zahid's affidavit was made in his capacity as Umno president. Zahid, by virtue of his position in the government, represents Umno's interests, and his actions reflect on the government as a whole.
Unless Zahid resigns as deputy prime minister and affirms his affidavit in a personal capacity, the government cannot escape responsibility for Zahid's actions.
It's a situation that highlights the absurdity of the political landscape, where personal and party interests often blur the lines of government responsibility.
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