KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak's lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah today claimed that the former prime minister's pardon application letter was not confidential.
However, he clarified that the letter was not accessible to the public due to his client's discretion.
"I only showed the seal. The content (of the letter) I never shared. Because I didn't get the permission from my client and it is not because it is confidential.
"In fact I think it is humble (for my client) to think that it is confidential. It is a public document for heaven's sake.
"While public access to documents is limited, it is due to my client who did not grant permission."
Shafee made these remarks during the Justice and Mercy forum at the Bar Council when questioned about the confidentiality of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pardon letter, prompted by his recent action of showing it to media personnel during a press conference.
Following that, DAP lawmaker, Lim Lip Eng had questioned how Datuk Seri Najib Razak's lawyer was privy to events which happened at the former prime minister's Pardons Board hearings chaired by the then King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
The Kepong member of parliament said the Pardons Board and other relevant authorities must "deal" with Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah's revelations at a press conference held outside the Jalan Duta Courts complex.
He said the Federal Constitution was very clear about the roles played by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and members of the Pardons Board.
On Feb 2, The Federal Territories Pardons Board chaired by the then Yang diPertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah decided to reduce Datuk Seri Najib Razak's fine as well as halve his 12-year jail term to six.
The former prime minister will be released from prison on Aug 23, 2028.
Najib was sentenced to 12-years jail after he was found guilty of one count of abuse of power with regard to Retirement Fund Inc's (KWAP) RM4 billion loan to SRC International Sdn Bhd, as well as three counts each of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power involving RM42 million of SRC funds.
He was also fined RM210 million.
SRC is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
In August 2022, the Federal Court upheld the conviction.
The 70-year-old former Pekan MP is still facing four charges of abusing his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion of 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.