PUTRAJAYA: The Attorney-General's Chambers (A-GC) will proceed with its application for a gag order to prevent the public from discussing issues related to Datuk Seri Najib Razak's house arrest.
A-GC Civil Division Deputy Head Shamsul Bolhassan, when contacted, said that they would continue with the application to obtain the court order until further notice.
The High Court has instructed the A-GC to submit their written application by Jan 20.
He said the application was made to protect the Royal Institution as the matter involves sensitive issues regarding the monarchy, religion, and ethnicity (3R).
Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil yesterday had said that the Cabinet had never directed the A-GC to file the application. (hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/01/1161336/updated-fahmi-denies-...)
"To be honest, the document has never been hidden. As the communications minister, I have neither received, seen, nor been informed about the document.
"I believe this matter involves the Pardons Board and we also acknowledge that the Court of Appeal has ruled for the case to be remitted to the High Court," he said in his weekly post-cabinet meeting press briefing.
The A-GC is seeking a gag and prohibitive order to restrain the public from discussing Najib's judicial review seeking to compel Putrajaya to execute an alleged addendum order allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.
Judge Hayatul Akmal Abdul Aziz has fixed March 11 for the next case management.
On Jan 6, a three-bench Court of Appeal panel, in a split decision, allowed the former prime minister to initiate a judicial review to review the existence of an addendum issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Appellate Court also allowed Najib to adduce additional affidavits to support his application.
Najib is currently serving a six-year prison sentence after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The High Court had sentenced him to 12 years in prison with a fine of RM210 million, and the verdict was subsequently upheld by the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.
However, his prison sentence was halved to six years and his fine was reduced to RM50 million following his petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022.
Najib later filed an application on an alleged addendum order signed by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The addendum purportedly allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. Previously, the High Court had dismissed his application.