KUALA LUMPUR: The house arrest order for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should only be contemplated by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, once the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has case concluded.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in an interview with Bloomberg at the 2024 Doha Economic Forum in Doha yesterday, said he would only propose such a measure if His Majesty specifically asked for his opinion.
"If the king seeks my advice, I would recommend, 'Your Highness, let the legal process unfold,'" he said during a special session titled 'In Conversation With the Prime Minister of Malaysia', which was moderated by Bloomberg Television's Southeast Asia Chief Correspondent Haslinda Amin.
Anwar said all parties must concentrate on the ongoing proceedings of the 1MDB case rather than diverting attention to the recent discussions surrounding Najib's potential house arrest.
"In the end, it's the prerogative of His Majesty to decide. As prime minister, I will uphold the authority of the king."
On April 1, Najib, 70, filed an application in the Kuala Lumpur High Court seeking leave for judicial review to challenge the validity of the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Addendum Decree.
Subsequently, Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi submitted an affidavit as a 'critical witness', expressing his support for Najib's application for judicial review to contest the existence of the Addendum Decree.
Zahid, in his affidavit sworn on April 9, said he was informed about the existence of the decree by the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, during a meeting at the Umno President's residence in Country Heights, Kajang, on Jan 30.
The Addendum Decree entails the former prime minister serving a six-year house arrest term.