ALOR STAR: Kedah Umno has lauded party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his proactive stance in filing the Additional Affidavit No. 3 that allows former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.

State party liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said Zahid's submission of the additional affidavit as deputy prime minister had fulfilled the party's mandate that honoured previous Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah's order.

"First, it demonstrates Zahid's effort to defend Najib, fulfilling the party's mandate to continue the defence of the former party president.

"Second, it also confirms that the deputy prime minister indeed respects the addendum decree of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which mentions 'house detention' for Najib," he said in a statement today.

In this context, Mahdzir said that Kedah Umno also respected the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong's addendum decree, considering it a royal prerogative similar to the main decree in the pardon process sought by Najib.

"Therefore, Kedah Umno hopes that the latest legal process undertaken by Najib, supported by the affidavit of Zahid, will proceed smoothly in accordance with the legal framework of the country," he added.

On April 3, Najib claimed that the previous Yang Di-Pertuan Agong had granted him permission to serve his remaining jail sentence under house arrest.

He claimed it was part of the then king's addendum order, but it had been kept silent by the government since January.

Yesterday, Zahid confirmed the existence of the addendum order. He reportedly claimed that the impugned document was shown to him by former Selangor Umno treasurer Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz at his house near Country Heights in Kajang, Selangor, on Jan 30.

Zahid said this in his supporting affidavit dated April 9 in Najib's judicial review application to compel the government to produce the impugned document.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1039671/kedah-umno-lauds-party-presidents-efforts-defend-najib