Loke’s Resignation Pledge Hangs on AGC Review of Najib Release

Whether Loke Siew Fook will keep his promise to step down if Datuk Seri Najib Razak goes home now depends on the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), according to a Sin Chew Daily column.

In the opinion piece published on Monday (Nov 9), Sin Chew Daily leader writer Anthony Chong wrote that Umno representatives went to the High Court last Friday to pay the RM50 million fine on Najib’s behalf, putting him “just one step away from ‘returning home’”.

AGC Seeks Court Clarification on Sentence

The AGC then intervened and called a halt, citing several legal issues requiring clarification, the column said.

According to the column, the AGC said it needs the court to clarify whether Najib’s prison sentence in the SRC International case ended with the RM50 million payment or must continue as house arrest, adding that this affects when his 1MDB sentence begins.

The AGC said its proposal to stay the execution of the house arrest was not meant to challenge or revoke the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, but to ensure that the pardon and related court orders were carried out correctly.

The column said Istana Negara had warned that any action questioning Najib’s conditional pardon would be tantamount to defying the Agong’s decree.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the release order issued by the court registrar on Friday had created a divergence in legal interpretation between the Attorney-General and Najib’s defence counsel, which requires judicial resolution.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed the Attorney-General to seek an audience with Sultan Ibrahim as soon as possible to seek forgiveness and explain the reasons for the stay of execution, the column said.

Anwar said the government recognises the King’s decree and that the relationship between the SRC house-arrest arrangement and the 1MDB sentence needs clarification.

Questions Over Donations for Fine

The column noted that former Damansara MP Tony Pua had urged Bank Negara Malaysia and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to audit the donations raised to pay the fine and check whether the funds were proceeds of money laundering.

DAP Kampar MP Chong Zhemin said an image circulating online claimed that seven contractors who won road projects from the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development had contributed to the fund.

He said he did not believe the claim, but urged Umno to confirm or deny it and called on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to release the list of rural road contractors and disclose any donors among them.

Anthony Chong wrote that no Malaysian law requires such an audit and that the fundraising was a private endeavour with no legal duty to disclose donors.

Timing Raises Questions, Says Writer

The column said the AGC had its grounds, but asked why the issues were raised only after the fine was paid and the High Court issued its release order, when the pardon was issued on Sept 18.

It noted that the move came a week before polling in the Melaka state election, amid persistent rumours of strain between Anwar and Ahmad Zahid.

Chong wrote that the AGC must act swiftly and disclose its legal basis and progress to prevent a prolonged political controversy.

Whether Loke will fulfil his promise once the AGC clarifies the legal issues and Najib is allowed to return home “remains to be seen”, the column said.

#latestmalaysia