No GE campaigning for Najib while serving jail term, says prison DG

Former prime minister Najib Razak will be subject to the Prison Act and its regulations as long as he is serving a jail sentence, prison director-general Nordin Muhammad said today.

He said as long as Najib is still serving his sentence, the former prime minister will not be allowed to go out to campaign for the 15th general election.

"The situation and regulations are still the same... so long as he is still serving the sentence in prison, he is subject to the Prison Act and regulations," he told reporters at the launch of the Offenders Compulsory Attendance (Amendment) Act (Act 1660) at the Malaysian Prisons headquarters in Kajang today.

He was commenting on the stand of the Prison Department in the event of an application by Najib's supporters for the Pekan MP to be given special permission to campaign in GE15.

However, Nordin said apart from the application for Najib to attend the Parliament sitting, which was rejected, the department had not received any other applications from the former prime minister.
 
He also reiterated that Najib was not receiving special treatment as alleged by some quarters.

Nordin said Najib, like other prisoners, was subject to the Prison Act and its regulations, in addition to the department’s SOPs.

"We give the same treatment to all inmates here and there is no such term as favouritism among the prisoners," he said.

On Aug 23, the Federal Court upheld Najib's conviction and 12-year prison sentence as well as his fine of RM210 million for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.