KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar Council today said 1Malaysia Development Berhad(1MDB) Special Task Force has "no legal standing" to arrest former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"The Task Force has no legal standing to arrest Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Any arrest can only be effected either by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) or the police.
"The Task Force is also not in a position to decide whether or not Datuk Seri Najib will be charged and/or when he is to be charged," said its president George Varughese, in a statement.
He said the Malaysian Bar was shocked and troubled by the task force's press statement that Najib had been arrested and would be charged in court.
George said the task force's move also raised a number of questions.
He asked: "Is the Task Force legally empowered to order the arrest of Datuk Seri Najib Razak and is the Task Force legally empowered to charge him?"
Najib was picked up by MACC personnel at his home in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta at 2.35pm today.
Meanwhile, Puteri Umno head, Zahida Zarik Khan in a press statement said only the court was qualified to decide if najib was guilty or otherwise.
She said the former Umno president has given his full cooperation to the authorities over the investigation into 1MDB.
"As a Malaysia citizen who respects the rule of law. We hope, whatever decision taken, must be done according to the Constitution. All investigation must be done in a open and fair manner, without political interferences including from the government." Zahida added.