KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 – The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has called for a public hearing of Najib Razak’s attempt to compel the government to produce a “supplementary order” allegedly issued by the former king, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. CIJ emphasized that the media should not be excluded from observing the proceedings, despite Najib’s lawyer applying for their exclusion due to the sensitivity of the case.
CIJ’s executive director, Wathshlah Naidu, stressed the importance of transparency in the judicial process, stating that the public has a right to know about matters of public interest. Similarly, electoral reform group Bersih echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for transparency in such high-profile cases, especially when public funds are involved. Both organizations urged the judiciary to ensure a transparent and open hearing, highlighting the significance of upholding the public’s right to information.
