Malaysian ex-PM Najib’s pension suspended for now, says minister

KUALA LUMPUR – Najib Razak’s pension has been suspended for the time being, confirmed Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.He said Najib was not only a former prime minister but also an inmate serving a prison sentence.“As a former prime minister, his entitlements are governed by the Federal Constitution and cabinet circulars. There is also the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act. My understanding is that only his pension payments have been suspended for the time being but he can enjoy other benefits unless there is another decision,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Nov 12.Although he confirmed that Najib’s pensions have been suspended, he said the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Legal Affairs Division.Najib began serving the remainder of his sentence under house arrest on Nov 10.This comes after the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest with immediate effect after an application by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) to review an earlier release order issued on Nov 6.Najib was convicted in July 2020 of misappropriating 42 million ringgit (S$13.2 million) from SRC International and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and a 210 million ringgit fine.On Sept 18, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department, which serves as the Pardons Board secretariat, announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, had consented to granting Najib a conditional pardon with a 50 million ringgit fine.On Nov 6, Najib’s defence counsel confirmed that his client had paid the 50 million ringgit fine imposed in the SRC case at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK