PM Najib should quit if he is not a 'public official'

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should resign for disclaiming responsibility over 1MDB by refusing to acknowledge that he was a "public official", said Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) Youth deputy head Faiz Fadzil.

"Positions comes with responsibility, and not personal wealth. As a PM he should take responsibility on all government weaknesses and mismanagement including 1MDB, and not shrug his responsibility by saying that he is not a public official.

"What more when the rakyat is the stakeholder who have to shoulder billions in debt," said Faiz in a statement today.

Faiz was reacting to submissions by Najib's lawyers who told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the prime minister is not a public officer or part of Malaysia's public service, as he is a member of the administration, citing Article 132 of the Federal Constitution.

The PM's lawyers argued that as such, Najib cannot be sued for tort or misfeasance by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Precedent set

Faiz argued that it was a surprise that Najib had used this argument because the Court of Appeal had ruled that a member of the administration, such as the menteri besar, were considered public officials.

Faiz, who is a practising lawyer, this ruling was made during the corruption trial involving former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo.

He argued that as prime minister, Najib was also head of government and officials under him are public office holders. His pay too comes from public coffers.

"It would be illogical for a prime minister or minister to be declared to be non-public official as this goes against the provisions and spirit of the constitution," he argued.

Faiz said that the prime minister's insistence on doing so can only be seen as a desperate attempt to evade responsibility for 1MDB, which advisory board was chaired by Najib.

Najib has denied wrongdoing in the mismanagement surrounding 1MDB and has been cleared of culpability by attorney-general Apandi Ali.- Mkini