DAP MP questions secrecy surrounding Najib's house arrest terms

KUALA LUMPUR: Kepong member of parliament Lim Lip Eng has questioned the Prisons Department's decision to keep Datuk Seri Najib Razak's house arrest conditions secret, describing it as absurd.

Lim said the department should disclose the basic conditions of Najib's house arrest to the public. Keeping the details confidential would only fuel further speculation, he added.

He also questioned whether the former prime minister would be allowed visitors and access to various amenities.

"Is he allowed access to the internet, telephone, social media, television and entertainment? Or is he required to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and be under continuous closed-circuit television monitoring?" he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client had received the royal order concerning his proposed house arrest, together with an appendix outlining its terms and conditions.

He said the contents of the appendix could not be disclosed because prison authorities had instructed Najib not to reveal them.

Shafee said the restrictions were intended to prevent public discussion of the conditions attached to the order.

Lim said Najib remained a convict rather than a released person. He added that the case was a matter of public interest and could set a precedent for future house arrest arrangements.

"Sensitive security information could remain confidential, but basic conditions should be disclosed to maintain public confidence in how prison sentences are carried out outside prison walls," he said.

Lim added that house arrest was not a holiday in a luxury bungalow. He questioned why the authorities were reluctant to disclose the details if the rules were being properly followed.