Muda wants real reason govt filed for gag order on Najib addendum

Summary

• Muda criticises the government’s gag order on discussions about Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest, questioning its motives.

• The party argues the move undermines transparency and legal legitimacy.

• It calls for respect of free speech and questions who requested the gag order.

Muda is alarmed by the government’s move to file for a gag order on public discussions regarding the royal addendum granting house arrest for jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The party said this attempt to muzzle free speech only raises more questions.

“What is the real purpose behind this move - to protect public interest, or to protect certain individuals from being held accountable by the public?

“The move also threatens the legitimacy of the legal system.

“The people deserve to know why a royal addendum, which can allegedly influence the jail sentence of a former premier convicted of corruption, was issued in such secrecy.

“Doesn’t transparency guarantee stronger institutional integrity?” it said in a statement last night.

The youth party also questioned who had sought the gag order, while urging the government to respect freedom of speech.

Yesterday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers filed for a protective order and gag order not just for court documents but for the entire judicial review proceedings, according to Najib’s lawyers.

The addendum is due to be deliberated in the High Court after the Court of Appeal granted Najib leave to initiate a judicial review.

The review is to compel the government to enforce the addendum, issued by the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong, granting Najib house arrest.

The addendum’s existence was confirmed in a letter from the Pahang palace produced in court last week.

Since then, there has been intense speculation on whether the addendum was issued following protocol, or whether the government had made attempts to subvert it.

Cops to record Khairy's statement on royal addendum remarks

AGC seeks gag order over Najib's royal addendum case

COMMENT | Royal addendum - when paperwork gets lost in Madani

Stop speculating on royal addendum, Azalina tells Umno members