KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s visit to Kajang Prison to see Datuk Seri Najib Razak received special approval from the Prisons director-general, said the home minister.
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the deputy prime minister’s visit was carried out in accordance with Rule 86 under Section 10 of the Prison Regulations 2000.
Saifuddin explained that the rule states that relationships between prisoners and their relatives and friends should be allowed, subject to any necessary restrictions for the maintenance of prison order and crime prevention.
“Regulation 86 provides the authority to grant special permission to the director-general of Prisons or the home minister,” Saifuddin said at a press conference in the Parliament building lobby today.
“The director-general of Prisons informed me. That is the procedure, there is no problem, the important thing is that he notified me.”
Commenting further, Saifuddin said Zahid’s act of bringing the former prime minister’s favourite food during the visit should not be disputed as Rule 99 of the regulations allows visitors to bring food from outside with the permission of the prison officer on duty.
“I also want to mention that the allegation that he (Zahid) brought an electronic device is incorrect.
“The visit was held in the presence of prison officers who have the authority to make the decision at that time. Thirty or 40 minutes depending on the discretion of the officer on duty,” he said.
Last Saturday, Zahid when delivering his presidential closing speech at the Umno general assembly revealed that he had met and had breakfast with Najib when he visited his predecessor as party president in Kajang Prison.
The visit caught the attention of several lawyers who asked the Prisons Department to explain if it was a form of special treatment given to Najib or Zahid, or if it was done according to the established procedure. – Bernama, June 14, 2023
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