KUALA LUMPUR: The daughter of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Nooryana Najwa, said the effort to refer the royal addendum case to the court was her father’s last resort after attempts to obtain confirmation from various parties were unsuccessful.
She said taking the matter to court was not her father’s preferred option; instead, he wanted to resolve it privately through diplomatic means, without public attention.
“He (Najib) understands the sensitivity of this issue and does not want to put any party in a difficult position, including the government.
“However, after three months of seeking information and writing to the relevant ministries and agencies, including the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), he failed to obtain the answers he needed.
“None of his letters received any response,” Nooryana said in a Facebook post.
She added that even at that stage, her father was reluctant to go to court, aware that once the matter became public, sensitivities would arise, particularly given attempts to conceal the truth.
“How far would those who do not want the addendum disclosed go to deny Najib his rights and, in the process, challenge the fundamental pillars of our country?
“It was a long process, almost two years, marked by delays, case management, applications for leave for judicial review and the appeal process.
“All of this, only for the court to say that the royal addendum exists but is not valid,” she said.
Nooryana said that had the authorities replied to Najib’s letters in January or February last year to state that they had received a royal order but did not believe it could be enforced for certain reasons, it would have saved time and costs incurred in referring the matter to court.
“I also firmly believe that the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong would not have issued such an order without the advice of the attorney-general. Moreover, the addendum was addressed to the attorney-general at the time.
“If the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s action was not in accordance with the law or the Constitution, then surely the attorney-general would have advised His Majesty otherwise and sought alternative options,” she said.
Nooryana said the case had shown that when no party takes responsibility for its actions, various complications arise, emotions are driven to a boiling point and pent-up frustration erupts.
“Trying to manage it simply by calling for calm and patience will not defuse the situation. Najib has always remained steadfast in facing every challenge with principle.
“He considers the option of running away from what he believes to be political persecution as an act of cowardice.
“Therefore, he is determined to clear his name of any wrongdoing. I am confident that despite his deep disappointment, he will continue to fight with all his strength to uphold justice.
“As a daughter, all I can do is pray that he is granted good health at the age of 72, so that he can face every challenge with a clear mind and a resilient heart,” she said.
On Monday, High Court judge Alice Loke dismissed the former prime minister’s judicial review application to enforce an alleged royal addendum that would have allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
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