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Key Highlights
Najib - another bad day in court
Umno questions the decision in Najib’s appeal
Lifetime ban for comedy club owner
Najib - another bad day in court
Najib Abdul Razak’s final bid to keep himself out of prison continues to be a bumpy ride.
Although the court rejected his lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik’s attempt to discharge himself, the former prime minister lamented that he is left with no legal representation.
He said this is because the Federal Court turned down the application to postpone the hearing for his newly-hired legal team to prepare a proper defence.
The court, on Tuesday, also dismissed the defence’s request to introduce new evidence.
“That is the unfortunate part and I am unable to present my defence. I believe I have a credible defence and Hisyam, if given reasonable time, would have been able to defend me,” Najib said.
The apex court, which has set nine days to hear Najib’s appeal, will reconvene today.
Tune in to Malaysiakini as we bring to you live coverage of the proceedings.
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Umno questions the decision in Najib’s appeal
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is sad. This is because the Federal Court did not allow his former boss, Najib Abdul Razak, to introduce new evidence in his appeal.
Stressing that Umno will not interfere in the affairs of the court, the former deputy prime minister, who is also facing a deluge of corruption charges, remarked: “However, we believe that justice need not only be done but it must be seen to be done.”
Similarly, Umno number two Mohamad Hassan argued that potential evidence must not be set aside on technical grounds.
"While Umno agrees with and respects the legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied, Umno also stresses that justice hurried is justice buried," Mohamad said.
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Lifetime ban for comedy club owner
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has reportedly blacklisted Crackhouse Comedy Club co-owner Rizal Van Geyzel. He will not be able to operate a business in the city again.
Meanwhile, the licence for the comedy club, which courted controversy over performances described as “insulting Islam and the Malay race”, has been revoked effective July 30.
Rizal and the club’s co-owner Shankar R Santhiram have sent a letter of demand to Kuala Lumpur Mayor Mahadi Che Ngah over the matter as they have not received official notice of the ban.
If the ban is true, the letter of demand, issued by their legal firm, states that the “irrational decision” would rob Rizal and Shankar of their right to earn a livelihood, which is guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.
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Views that matter
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What else is happening?
The special government investigation report on the six littoral combat ships (LCS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy has been declassified and among others, it sank Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s denial of involvement in the procurement process.
The report contained a letter by Boustead Naval Shipyard (BNS) on July 8, 2010, to Zahid - who was the defence minister at the time - asking for a letter of intent (LOI) on the LCS project.
Police are investigating an allegation that Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy’s former staffer demanded money from applicants for low-cost and affordable housing units in the state.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has indicated that the general election will be held only after the tabling of the federal budget in Parliament.
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