PARLIAMENT | Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail will propose to the cabinet tomorrow to declassify the Pardons Board meeting minutes that granted Najib Abdul Razak house arrest.

He said the proposal, raised by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar), would provide greater clarity and a more accurate understanding of the board's decision-making process.

"I will bring the idea to the cabinet for us to declassify... not a report, but the minutes of the Pardons Board meeting, so that they can provide a sense of justice or a more accurate perspective on the process through which the Pardons Board made its decision.

"I think that falls within the jurisdiction and responsibility of the attorney-general, but I have no objection to it. So, at tomorrow’s cabinet meeting, with the higher education minister and my colleagues present, I will raise the matter.

"I will have the courage to bring this forward, as it is a recommendation from Parliament, specifically from the Muar MP,” Saifuddin said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

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The minister responded to a series of questions from several MPs about the conditions of Najib's house arrest, after Syed Saddiq raised a polemic surrounding the order.

According to the Muar representative, the issue had seen various police reports lodged against former Damansara MP Tony Pua and accusations that anyone who disagrees with the Pardons Board decision was committing treason.

He then asked Saifuddin if the minister would consider bringing a proposal to the cabinet to declassify the Pardons Board "report" so that the polemic "can be resolved," adding that it was unfair for the government to take the moral burden of the decision.

READ MORE: Family can stay with Najib during house arrest, ex-PM also asked for 2nd home: Saifuddin

Order of discharge

Saifuddin also defended the attorney-general's decision to pause a Nov 6 "Order of Discharge" issued by the Kuala Lumpur High Court for Najib's house arrest.

Responding to Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), he said the Prisons Department had to seek legal advice from the Attorney-General's Chambers as there was confusion surrounding the wording in the court order.

The confusion, Saifuddin said, stemmed from the term “discharge”, which, to the department, could mean releasing Najib from prison altogether.

"Discharge means setting free. This means the Prisons Department has no more say, no more power. It is different from 'release'.

"Are we releasing him for house detention? Or release on licence, compulsory attendance, or parole?

"So, due to the confusion surrounding this, I told the Prisons Department’s chief: Who is the government’s legal adviser? That is the attorney-general.

"That is the process we follow. We are the implementers. We are not the administrators of the law," Saifuddin said.

He pointed out that the High Court decision on Tuesday proved their concern over the terminology.

Saifuddin said the court would not have rescinded the original order and issued a new one if there was nothing wrong.




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