Govt forms protem committee to draft Freedom of Information Bill
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman has established a protem committee for the drafting of the Freedom of Information Bill to enhance democratic governance and transparency.
Among its primary objectives are drafting a comprehensive legal framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and the public's right to information in accordance with the Federal Constitution, democratic principles, and international best practices.
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The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
A-GC denies flawed prosecution in Najib's second SRC case
KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has dismissed as baseless allegations that it carried out a 'flawed prosecution' in the second SRC International Sdn Bhd case involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. In a statement, the AGC reiterated its firm commitment to upholding the rule of law and stated that it would continue to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Constitution with integrity, fairness and respect for the judicial process. However, the AGC acknowledged the decision by High Court Judge K Muniandy to grant Najib a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on three charges of money laundering involving RM27 million in funds from the company. 'The case was registered in the High Court on Feb 7, 2019, and scheduled for trial on five occasions: June 2020, July to August 2021, March to April 2022, September 2024 and April to May 2025. 'However, all trial dates were postponed due to the Movement Control Order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, requests by the defence, or applications by the prosecution itself,' the statement read. According to the statement, the prosecution's requests for postponement were due to the ongoing trial of the first SRC case, which proceeded at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court until its completion on March 31, 2023. At the same time, the trial proceedings for the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case had also begun while the first SRC case was still ongoing. 'Both cases involved overlapping material documents required for the second SRC trial. 'As these documents were critical to the second SRC case, the prosecution had no choice but to wait until they were available, which was until the 1MDB trial proceedings were completed. 'It must be emphasised that the material documents are available but are currently being used as evidence in the ongoing 1MDB trial,' the AGC said. The AGC further stated that the prosecution had requested additional time to gather all relevant material documents to be presented as evidence in the second SRC trial. 'This delay was not intentional but was to ensure the integrity of the documents as evidence in the trial is preserved,' the statement read. Earlier today, Judge Muniandy, in granting Najib a DNAA on the three charges, stated that the case had been pending for six years since 2019, without any witness testimony being presented, having faced multiple postponements, which indicated that the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial. On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three charges of money laundering by accepting illegal proceeds amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014. The former Pekan MP was charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction. Najib is currently serving a jail term in Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of RM42 million in the SRC International funds case. On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon, which led to the Pardons Board halving his jail term from 12 to six years and reducing the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million on Jan 29, 2024.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
AGC rejects claims of ‘flawed prosecution' after Najib's DNAA in second SRC case
KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) has dismissed as baseless allegations that it carried out a 'flawed prosecution' in the second SRC International Sdn Bhd case involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. In a statement, the AGC reiterated its firm commitment to upholding the rule of law and stated that it would continue to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Constitution with integrity, fairness and respect for the judicial process. However, the AGC acknowledged the decision by High Court Judge K Muniandy to grant Najib a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on three charges of money laundering involving RM27 million in funds from the company. 'The case was registered in the High Court on Feb 7, 2019, and scheduled for trial on five occasions: June 2020, July to August 2021, March to April 2022, September 2024 and April to May 2025. 'However, all trial dates were postponed due to the Movement Control Order caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, requests by the defence, or applications by the prosecution itself,' the statement read. According to the statement, the prosecution's requests for postponement were due to the ongoing trial of the first SRC case, which proceeded at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court until its completion on March 31, 2023. At the same time, the trial proceedings for the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case had also begun while the first SRC case was still ongoing. 'Both cases involved overlapping material documents required for the second SRC trial. 'As these documents were critical to the second SRC case, the prosecution had no choice but to wait until they were available, which was until the 1MDB trial proceedings were completed. 'It must be emphasised that the material documents are available but are currently being used as evidence in the ongoing 1MDB trial,' the AGC said. The AGC further stated that the prosecution had requested additional time to gather all relevant material documents to be presented as evidence in the second SRC trial. 'This delay was not intentional but was to ensure the integrity of the documents as evidence in the trial is preserved,' the statement read. Earlier today, Judge Muniandy, in granting Najib a DNAA on the three charges, stated that the case had been pending for six years since 2019, without any witness testimony being presented, having faced multiple postponements, which indicated that the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial. On Feb 3, 2019, Najib claimed trial to three charges of money laundering by accepting illegal proceeds amounting to RM27 million through his three AmPrivate Banking accounts at AmIslamic Bank Berhad, AmBank Group Building, Jalan Raja Chulan on July 8, 2014. The former Pekan MP was charged under Section 4 (1) (a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001, which is punishable by a maximum fine of RM5 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction. Najib is currently serving a jail term in Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of RM42 million in the SRC International funds case. On Sept 2, 2022, he filed a petition for a royal pardon, which led to the Pardons Board halving his jail term from 12 to six years and reducing the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million on Jan 29, 2024.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Rafizi: Refile charges without further delay
Day in court: Najib arriving at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex. — Bernama PETALING JAYA: As Datuk Seri Najib Razak hails as relief the temporary discharge of his money laundering case involving RM27mil, a lawmaker urges swift refiling of the charges. Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli urged the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to clarify how it would refile the charges involving RM27mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd against the former prime minister without further delay. Rafizi made the call following the High Court granting Najib a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) order for all three charges in the case. A DNAA releases an accused from a charge without clearing them of the offence, meaning they can still be prosecuted later. Rafizi said it was unacceptable that, despite Najib being charged in 2019, the trial has yet to begin due to the prosecution's failure to complete the required documentation. 'I urge the prosecution to refile the charges as soon as possible and prepare the necessary documents so the case can proceed,' the former Economy Minister said in a statement. While acknowledging Najib's right to seek a discharge, Rafizi questioned the prolonged delay, especially as the former was already serving a prison sentence in another case involving SRC International funds. The AGC in an immediate response to the development said it will examine and consider all aspects before taking any further action on the case. The AGC said there were some documents which are material for the current SRC International trial, and the prosecution has no choice but to wait until the relevant material documents were obtained after the 1MDB trial proceedings are completed. 'It should be emphasised that the material documents are already available but are being used as evidence in the ongoing 1MDB trial,' the AGC said. 'The prosecution has requested time to gather all relevant material documents to be presented as evidence and testimony in the second SRC trial. This delay is not intentional but is to ensure that the integrity of the documents as evidence in the trial is always maintained. It said the case was postponed several times namely due to the Movement Control Order linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, requests by Najib's counsel and the prosecution as the documents was used in the then ongoing first SRC case and the currently ongoing 1MDB case. 'This department emphasises that the allegations by certain parties that this department carries out 'defective prosecution' are completely unfounded. This department always maintains the highest level and quality in line with expectations of the people. 'This department remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will continue to carry out its responsibilities under the Federal Constitution with integrity, fairness and respect for the judicial process,' it said. Meanwhile, Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client welcomed the court's decision, noting that it reduced the number of active cases against him. 'He's very happy and can now concentrate on the 1MDB trial, which is set for submissions in October,' Shafee told reporters after the court granted the DNAA order. Shafee explained that the AGC cannot appeal the DNAA but may choose to refile the case. 'But we hope they don't,' he added. With the DNAA order, Najib now faces only one active criminal trial – the RM2.28bil 1MDB case, scheduled to resume in October. Najib was acquitted from the 1MDB audit tampering case in March 2023, and a DNAA in the RM6.6bil IPIC-related case last November. He is currently serving a prison sentence for his conviction in the RM42mil SRC International graft case.
