Home ministry, Prisons Department mum on Umno president's prison dining with Najib

The home ministry and Prisons Department have remained mum on the recent disclosure by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that he visited jailed former leader Najib Razak in prison. 

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said he had spent almost two hours with Najib at Kajang Prison along with members of the Umno Supreme Council. 

He also said that he had brought along some of Najib's favourite food and enjoyed it together with the former prime minister. 

"We were able to eat together. After meeting for half an hour, it was only the both of us for an hour and a half," he said when wrapping up the 2023 Umno general assembly last weekend. 

MalaysiaNow contacted Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and his press secretary but did not receive a response. 

The Prisons Department's public relations officer did not respond either. 

Zahid's visit was questioned by lawyer Rafique Rashid, who had called for an explanation from both the home ministry and the Prisons Department. 

Rafique said that Zahid and his colleagues had breached the rules and regulations for prison visits, including the 45-minute limit for visits and the tight supervision by prison officers and wardens. 

Food and beverages from outside the prison are also restricted along with recording devices. 

Visitors meanwhile can only communicate with prisoners by phone, through a glass divider. 

Rafique said these procedures which he himself followed as a lawyer remained in force and had never changed. 

"This means that the same applies to relatives and members of the public who visit inmates in prison," he said. 

"Why the different story when Zahid visits Najib?"