We are bound by law, says top cop after anger over police escort for convict Najib

The inspector-general of police has stepped in to explain security privileges for former prime ministers after several social media posts questioning the police escort given to Najib Razak despite his conviction of corruption charges.

Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the police are bound by law to provide traffic and safety escorts for former prime ministers, citing the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.

“For the time being, the police provide these services for all former prime ministers,” he said.

“In the case of prime ministers who are facing legal action, the police will maintain their eligibility for traffic and safety escorts until their appeal is decided by the courts.”

Najib, the only former prime minister to have been convicted of criminal charges, was found guilty last year of seven charges linked to the 1MDB scandal, and sentenced to 12 years in jail. He was also fined RM210 million over the charges related to RM42 million in SRC International funds.

He was granted a stay of execution pending his appeal in the Court of Appeal.

Malaysian social media has also been abuzz over a report that the former leader’s request for a free house in a luxury part of Kuala Lumpur has been approved by Putrajaya.

Last week, MalaysiaNow reported that the government would construct a house for Najib as part of the privileges accorded under the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act, with a price tag of RM100 million including the value of the vacant land at Bukit Petaling, a posh residential area in the heart of the capital.