Malaysia Prisons Department Says Najib Can’t Go Out To Campaign For GE15 If He’s Still Serving Prison Sentence
Former Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak, who’s currently serving a jail sentence for corruption, will not be released to campaign during the upcoming general election.
Malaysia’s director of the prisons department Nordin Muhammad confirmed this on Tuesday (11 Oct).
Mr Nordin also maintained that the 69-year-old is not receiving special treatment in prison.
Najib can’t go out to campaign during GE15 if he’s serving prison sentence
“The situation and regulations are still the same… so long as he is still serving the sentence in prison, he is subject to the Prisons Act and regulations,” Mr Nordin said during an event launch in Kajang.
Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported that Najib’s lawyer had filed a lawsuit last week after Najib’s application to attend Parliament sessions was rejected.
Mr Nordin said the prisons department hadn’t received any other applications from Najib as of 11 Oct.
Regardless, he responded as Najib’s supporters had asked if he’d be given permission to go out to campaign,
We give the same treatment to all inmates here and there is no such term as favouritism among the prisoners.
Unclear if Najib’s lawyer will seek permission
Meanwhile, Najib’s lawyer has not confirmed if he would seek an application for his client to contest in GE15, according to The Star.
“I do not want to touch on the topic now as there are a number of interesting arguments and developments that I do not want to make public yet”, he said.
It is currently unclear if there will be a replacement for Najib’s Pekan seat if he’s unable to go out to campaign.
Was hospitalised due to health issues
Najib’s prison sentence, which is due to run for 12 years, has been eventful so far due to a variety of reasons.
Last month, he was conveyed to the hospital due to health issues.
After he took tests to confirm his good health, he was transported back to prison on 23 Sep.
Rumours spread that he was being given special treatment, which both the health ministry and prisons department denied.
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