’Never have I witnessed a judicial body as independent as it is today’ - Musa Hitam

KUALA LUMPUR - Tun Musa Hitam said he has never seen a judicial body as independent as it is today, especially when it involves political affairs.

The former deputy prime minister said the judiciary today was very firm.

“Never in my life have I witness the judiciary as it is now, it is very firm,” he said.

He said this during the launch of the Dyslexia Malaysia Association Malaysia Day celebration, here, today.

On the incarceration of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Musa said he has no clue whether the former prime minister was being given special treatment in the cell.

However, he did not rule out the possibility as Najib was a well a known figure in Malaysian politics.

"I'm not sure whether there is special treatment, but whether you like it or not, Najib has a name in Malaysian politics.

"Unfortunately the name has been subjected to the Malaysian law and judiciary and as far as I can see, I am sure the public will see the process to determine whether he is right or wrong,” he said.

He said Najib has landed himself in the prison and it caught the attention of the public on whether or not he was receiving special treatment in prison.

“In this country, there are groups of people who would believe everything you say so it goes on and on so I refuse to argue or to get involved in the argument whether he is being given the right medicine, sleeping well and what not.

“People are so interested, but soon people will also accept that he is there in jail but we must live with it since we are an open society and as I said just now, he has a name (in Malaysian politics),” he said.

Musa who was also former home minister said the facilities that existed in detention centres or jails in Sungai Buloh were all taken into account in the judicial process.

“I have been living for so long, during the time of Tun Abdul Razak, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. I knew each and everyone of these leaders who ran the country in their own regimes,” he said.

On Aug 23, the Federal Court dismissed Najib's final appeal to set aside his conviction, 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine over the misappropriation of RM42 million funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

He is now serving his jail sentence at the Kajang Prison.