KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak wants the Prison Department to consider allowing him to visit his constituency in Pekan once in a while to fulfil his duties as a member of parliament.
The former prime minister's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said although this request might be difficult to fulfil, it was not impossible.
"We have asked. Once in a while, he should be able, as long as he is an MP, to be escorted to his constituency.
"This is for him to hear the grouses of the people and to delegate work to his aides. After that, he goes back to prison."
Shafee said this at a press conference outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court here this evening.
He said a letter had been sent to the Prison Department director-general on Sept 19 to ask the department allow Najib to attend Parliament.
"However, they (the Prison Department) rejected our request because of security issues.
"I find it odd because surely Parliament is a lot safer compared to a court or hospital complex.
"Police can also increase their presence to beef up security."
Najib, 69, is serving his 12-year jail sentence at the Kajang Prison.
He was found guilty of all seven charges related to the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International funds.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun earlier today said Najib can only attend Parliament sittings if the Prison Department gave the green light.
He said it was not within the power of the speaker to grant this permission to Najib as he was in prison.
Meanwhile, Shafee said an appeal letter has been sent to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin on the matter.
"We will wait for his (Hamzah) reply until tomorrow before we file a judicial review on the Prison Department's rejection.
"My client remains the Pekan member of parliament until the pardon petition process ends."