KUALA LUMPUR: An Umno Supreme Council member has lashed out at the Malaysian Bar, accusing it of sowing confusion over its bid to challenge former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pardon.
Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said he was unsurprised that the Bar passed a motion to challenge the halving of Najib's 12-year jail term.
He accused the Bar of being biased and partisan.
"Until today, they are silent on (former Attorney-General) Tommy Thomas' decision to drop Lim Guan Eng's corruption case."
He was referring to the discharge amounting to an acquittal granted to the former Penang chief minister.
This came after a representation by the AG to withdraw the case.
Puad said Najib did not apply for his sentence to be halved but a full pardon on his contention that the former Pekan MP did not get a fair trial.
"I challenge the Bar to respond to the judgment by Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli (on Najib's case).
"He said Najib should be freed because he did not get a fair trial."
Puad said the Bar's bid to challenge the halving of Najib's sentence makes it seem as if the Pardons Board is unfair and that the commuting of the sentence was not the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's prerogative.
"The Federal Territories minister and AG need to clear the air over the confusion created by the Bar."
In 2022, Najib was sentenced to a 12-year jail term after he was found guilty of one count of abuse of power about 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.