KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak may automatically lose his status as Pekan member of parliament 14 days from today, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun said.
This is unless no other court procedures are initiated or a royal pardon is applied within that period, Azhar added
He said this is in line with Article 48 of the Federal Constitution, which provided for a person to be disqualified as an MP if he or she is convicted and sentenced to more than one year in prison or a fine of not less than RM2,000, and does not receive a royal pardon.
At the moment, he said, Parliament needs to wait for an official notification to be issued by the Federal Court regarding the punishments meted to Najib.
"Right now, there is no more appeal to the verdict made by the Federal Court, but Article 48(4)(b) states that if there are other court proceedings (initiated), then Najib's status (as Pekan MP) will remain until that proceeding is concluded.
"I will first need to find out if there is another proceeding (initiated), including a review, because the review process is part of the court's procedure.
"If there is, and Najib filed the review within 14 days, then his status as Pekan MP will remain until that proceeding ends.
"At the same time, Article 48 states that if there is a request for a royal pardon within 14 days, then his status will remain until the process of the royal pardon is concluded," he told the NSTP today.
Yesterday, the apex court dismissed Najib's final appeal to overturn the 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine for misappropriation of SRC International funds, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
The five-person bench chaired by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat ruled that Najib had failed to show how the findings of the lower courts were perverse and needed the intervention of the Federal Court.
Asked when Parliament would receive the notification from the Federal Court on Najib's sentencing, Azhar said this should be done soon.
In regards to the notification of confirmation that the Pekan seat is vacated, Azhar said he would issue the notification if Najib didn't file for a review or other court proceedings in the next 14 days.
"I have to wait 14 days, which starts today. If all provisions provided in the constitution are not implemented within the given period, only then I can make the decision (for the Pekan seat to be vacated)."