KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno supreme council member Isham Jalil said the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) had suggested that he file a representation letter for a unconditional apology over his comment in Datuk Seri Najib Razak's corruption case involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Isham said he agreed to the suggestion due to the high legal costs and he wanted to focus on another legal battle with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's former aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak involving the Heitech Padu fiasco.

"The representation was made after it was suggested by the AGC to my lawyer a few weeks ago. Perhaps the AGC does not want to prolong this case in open court.

"Therefore, I agreed with their (AGC's) suggestion because legal costs are quite high, and I am not a wealthy person or a billionaire.

"I have money, but I am not like other wealthy politicians... I never taken bribes or indulged in illicit money throughout my tenure in the highest government positions," he said in a statement.

Isham said the legal case between him and Farhash was more important, as he claimed to have the support of the AGC and the judiciary.

In March, Isham highlighted a concern over alleged potential breaches in the law in Farhash's purchase of an estimated RM40 million worth of shares in HeiTech Padu Bhd.

He filed a police report over Farhash's emergence as a substantial shareholder of a government contractor. However, Farhash said Isham's claims were defamatory and also sought damages from Isham.

"It would not be wise or sensible for me to seek support from the judiciary in one case but to oppose them in another case.

"I need to choose my battles wisely. This time, I have to concede to the AGC and the judiciary.

"I understand that I cannot win in everything, and in our struggles, we will lose and fall many times before we succeed. This is what I need to endure in my journey as a citizen and a politician," said Isham.

It was reported earlier that Isham had agreed to offer an unconditional apology to end the committal proceedings brought against him in December last year.

Deputy public prosecutor Ahmad Akram Gharib said the former politician sent the letter via email on March 25.

In the ex-parte application filed on Dec 28, the attorney-general requested the court to imprison or impose a fine on Isham for the offence.

The request was filed over an interview titled "Townhall for Justice: Keadilan Sebenarnya Untuk Siapa", during which Isham reportedly commented on Najib's trial and appeal in the SRC International and 1MDB cases.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2024/04/1041726/isham-jalil-concedes-agc-file-representation-letter-apologise-over