PUTRAJAYA (Jan 6): A crowd rallied outside the Palace of Justice on Monday to support former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his renewed bid to serve out his prison term under house arrest.

At its peak, more than a thousand people showed up, and they largely respected the barricades set up ahead of the Court of Appeal’s hearing on a purported royal addendum order, even as Putrajaya police rejected the permit application for the planned solidarity rally for being incomplete.

There was also a heavy police presence around the court compound, though the rally remained peaceful amid the sweltering heat.

Supporters donning apparel saying "Free Najib" chanted "bebas, bebas, bebas bossku", and there were also people dressed in PAS attire. Occasional chants of “Allahu Akbar” and “takbir” were also heard.

Several people there told The Edge that their attendance at the rally was to uphold fairness and justice.

“We have to uphold fairness and justice as taught under Islam,” said one from PAS.

A Najib supporter, who said he came all the way from Ketereh, said that he was there to champion the sovereignty of the Malay sultans. “Put aside politics and uphold fairness,” he said.

Cars littered the vast and usually empty parking lots surrounding the Palace of Justice. Vendors have also set up makeshift stalls along the sides of the court compound selling ‘bebas Najib’ T-shirts and scarfs.

Some vendors who parked their trucks nearby to sell food and beverages to the crowd were seen being fined by the police for not having requisite permits.

PAS leaders were sighted and some Umno leaders have also turned up since the convoy escorting Najib arrived at the court complex at 8.33am.

The crowd began to disperse around 12.30pm for lunch and Zohor prayers. Najib’s supporters returned to the premises, while PAS supporters did not reconvene.

As news of the Court of Appeal’s decision to allow Najib’s appeal to have the merits of his challenge over the existence of an addendum to be heard at the High Court made its way to the thinned crowd around 1.30pm, supporters renewed their chants of “free Najib”.

Some of Najib’s supporters however were heard questioning why the matter would be sent back to the High Court, instead of the addendum’s existence being recognised and implemented. The remainder of his supporters left the premises around 2.30pm.

The rally was initially to be jointly held by PAS and Barisan Nasional. Umno and BN component parties pulled out following the King’s decree that the pardon process must be respected, while PAS charged ahead.

Najib, a former Umno president, is appealing against the High Court's dismissal of his application for leave to commence a judicial review on the addendum that may or may not exist.

He is seeking to adduce new evidence that prove the existence of the document supposedly issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the former PM's appeal for the judicial review to compel the government to produce it.

In dismissing Najib’s application for leave or permission, High Court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh had said the court could not make a decision based on hearsay evidence.

In judicial review applications, leave has to be gained from the court first, before the merits or substantive matter of an application can be heard, to ensure that the application is not frivolous or vexatious, or an abuse of the court process.

Najib is currently serving a reduced six-year jail term and a RM50 million fine after being found guilty of seven charges, including abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The original punishment was a 12-year jail term and a RM210 million fine, before a partial royal pardon was granted in March last year by the previous king.

Read also:
Najib's addendum appeal allowed via majority decision, case reverted to High Court
AGC claims no due diligence on Najib’s part to produce additional evidence on purported addendum, maintains February release as main order
Nizar produces letter purportedly from Pahang comptroller, allegedly verifying addendum
Police chief urges public to stay away from rallies after palace statement on pardon issue
Najib wants to adduce fresh evidence on his house-arrest addendum appeal