Anwar open to talks with Umno leaders over Najib's royal addendum
PUTRAJAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is prepared to hold discussions with Umno leaders over a royal addendum allowing former party president Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Anwar said he was aware that several Umno division chiefs had recently voiced concerns over the matter.
'I am ready to meet with them, provide clarification if needed, or take any steps necessary to preserve harmony,' he told reporters after Friday prayers here.
Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar is appealing to set aside a majority 2-1 ruling on Jan 6 that allowed Najib's application to adduce additional evidence on the addendum and order the High Court to hear his judicial review.
Umno division chiefs, however, said the attorney-general should 'uphold' the addendum and 'support justice'. They also called on Anwar to implement the addendum.
Separately, Anwar said he hoped speculation over alleged interference in judicial appointments will be put to rest following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's assent to several key postings.
'The allegations of interference have been proven baseless, after weeks of attacks and slander directed at me,' he said.
'I hope that with this explanation, and with the decision endorsed by the Conference of Rulers and approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the slander and anxiety surrounding this issue can now be laid to rest.'
In a statement yesterday, the office of the chief registrar said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh's appointment as chief justice, Abu Bakar Jais's appointment as president of the Court of Appeal, and Azizah Nawawi's appointment as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak.
They will be sworn in and presented with their letters of appointment at Istana Negara on July 28.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Too early to decide on Nick Adams's nomination as US envoy, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government will give the nomination of Nick Adams due consideration and, at the same time, maintain good ties with Washington. PUTRAJAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says it is premature for the government to decide on whether to approve conservative political commentator Nick Adams as the next US ambassador to Malaysia. Anwar said Putrajaya is following the proper protocol in considering foreign ambassadorial appointments. 'It is still too early (to decide),' he told reporters after Friday prayers here. 'Of course, the government will give it due consideration. At the same time, we will maintain good relations between Malaysia and the US.' US president Donald Trump has nominated Adams as Washington's new ambassador to Malaysia. His nomination will need to be confirmed by the US senate before he can assume the role. While no date has been set for the senate vote, Adams is expected to be approved as the Republican-held senate has backed every Trump nominee since he became president in January. Adams's nomination has faced opposition from former law minister Zaid Ibrahim and former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who said Malaysia has every right under the Vienna Convention to reject the appointment without providing a reason. Zaid described Adams as a 'right-wing agitator and partisan provocateur' who is unfit to serve as a US ambassador because of his lack of diplomatic credentials. Adams previously criticised alleged efforts to 'teach Islam in schools'. Known to be a staunch supporter of Israel, he has said that those who expressed solidarity with Palestinians supported terrorism. Selangor PAS Youth chief Sukri Omar said accepting Adams's nomination will be seen as an insult to the country's Muslim community and Malaysians who support Palestine. PKR Youth today submitted a memorandum of protest to the US embassy over the nomination.
Free Malaysia Today
4 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Anwar open to talks with Umno leaders over Najib's royal addendum
One hundred and sixty Umno division chiefs have urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to uphold a royal addendum allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest. PUTRAJAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is prepared to hold discussions with Umno leaders over a royal addendum allowing former party president Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. Anwar said he was aware that several Umno division chiefs had recently voiced concerns over the matter. 'I am ready to meet with them, provide clarification if needed, or take any steps necessary to preserve harmony,' he told reporters after Friday prayers here. Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar is appealing to set aside a majority 2-1 ruling on Jan 6 that allowed Najib's application to adduce additional evidence on the addendum and order the High Court to hear his judicial review. Umno division chiefs, however, said the attorney-general should 'uphold' the addendum and 'support justice'. They also called on Anwar to implement the addendum. Separately, Anwar said he hoped speculation over alleged interference in judicial appointments will be put to rest following the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's assent to several key postings. 'The allegations of interference have been proven baseless, after weeks of attacks and slander directed at me,' he said. 'I hope that with this explanation, and with the decision endorsed by the Conference of Rulers and approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the slander and anxiety surrounding this issue can now be laid to rest.' In a statement yesterday, the office of the chief registrar said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh's appointment as chief justice, Abu Bakar Jais's appointment as president of the Court of Appeal, and Azizah Nawawi's appointment as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak. They will be sworn in and presented with their letters of appointment at Istana Negara on July 28.
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Anwar urges PKR members to ‘move on' from dispute over judicial appointments
Information chief Fahmi Fadzil said PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has urged party members and branch leaders to respect those with differing opinions and move forward together to strengthen the party. (Bernama pic) SHAH ALAM : PKR president Anwar Ibrahim has urged party members to 'move on' and stop focusing on differences of opinion among its elected representatives regarding judicial appointments. PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said Anwar conveyed this message during a closed-door meeting with Selangor PKR leaders here today. Fahmi said Anwar, who is also the prime minister, said he had no intention of taking disciplinary action against PKR MPs who held differing views on the matter. 'They have the right to express their views, and Anwar has asked division leaders and PKR members to understand this and 'move on',' he told reporters after the meeting. Last week, 19 PKR divisions in Johor called for Rafizi Ramli and eight other PKR MPs to be suspended after the group called for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry, and a hearing by a parliamentary select committee, following delays in the appointment of top judicial positions. The nine MPs claimed the matter amounted to a constitutional crisis, an allegation which the Attorney-General's Chambers denied. The AGC also dismissed the call for an RCI, stating that the appointment process was proceeding at the time in accordance with the Federal Constitution. The division chiefs said the MPs' actions not only breached party discipline and ethics, but also cast a negative light on the prime minister's leadership and opened the door to political manipulation by rivals. In a statement yesterday, the office of the chief registrar said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh's appointment as the chief justice, Abu Bakar Jais's appointment as president of the Court of Appeal, and Azizah Nawawi's appointment as chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak. They will be sworn in and presented with their letters of appointment at Istana Negara on July 28. Fahmi, who is the communications minister, also said that appointments for positions in PKR's state leadership councils will be finalised by the end of this month.
