'Special permission' to visit Najib: Blatant bias by govt, says Bersatu leader

15 Jun 2023 12:07pm

Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, in a statement, disclosed that Zahid was given a special permission by Najib which was granted by the Prison Department Commissioner General. - Filepic

SHAH ALAM - A Bersatu leader accused the Prison Department of practising double standards for allowing Umno leaders to have a special visit and lunch with jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Kajang Prison.

Bersatu Legal and Constitution Bureau deputy chairman Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif took the government to task, needling on the biases of such preferential treatment which was not given to any other inmates.

"The visit includes Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi (Umno president) bringing special meals to Najib and both had a meeting for almost 2 hours together with members of the Umno Supreme Council," she pointed out.

Sasha added that according to the law, each inmate is allowed visitation from immediate family only, once every month for 1 hour, and visits from their lawyer; no other types of visitors are allowed.

"There would be a glass barrier between them and their incarcerated family member and any food brought by the family members will be checked thoroughly and will only be given after the session.

"There is no such thing as having a meal together," she added.

Yesterday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution, in a statement, said the prisons department director-general Nordin Muhamad allowed the visit.

According to Sasha, such privilege was a blatant example of bias and double standards practised by the government.

"This clearly and blatantly shows the biases and double standards that are being practised by the Prisons Department, the Home Ministry, and the government, and this is a breach of Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, where all are equal.

If this is the stance taken by the prisons department and it has the capacity to grant “special permission” to certain types of persons, it is therefore only fair for other prisoners to be able to enjoy this special permission," she argued.

On August 23, 2022, Najib was found guilty of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International.