In a statement, Saiful Edris Zainuddin said the decision was made by the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, following advice received during an audience granted to state menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and himself.

Saiful said Istana Abu Bakar would also not comment on the contents of an affidavit signed by Najib’s son, Nizar Razak, the Peramu Jaya assemblyman and a state executive councillor, pending the disposal of the case.

“The Pahang palace will refrain from making any statement on this matter as the subject matter is sub judice since the case is currently before the Court of Appeal.

“(The appeal) is scheduled for hearing on Jan 6, and a decision is yet to be delivered by the court,” the statement read.

In an application filed on April 1 this year, Najib sought leave to bring judicial review proceedings in a bid to compel the government to execute the purported royal decree by placing him under house arrest.

The former prime minister claimed that Al-Sultan Abdullah himself issued the addendum order at a meeting of the Federal Territories’ Pardons Board (FTPB) held on Jan 29 this year, one day before the monarch’s tenure as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong ended.

He said the board had omitted to announce the terms of the supplementary decree, and that the government was in contempt for not complying with it.

On July 3, Justice Amarjeet Singh dismissed the application, prompting Najib to file the present appeal to the Court of Appeal.

On Thursday, Najib filed an application seeking to adduce fresh evidence at the appeal to prove the existence of the addendum.

Yesterday, the Attorney-General’s Chambers urged all parties to refrain from commenting on the case as the matter was sub judice. The statement came after several quarters urged Putrajaya to confirm the existence of the document.

In July 2020, Najib was convicted by the High Court for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in his SRC International case. He was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million. Appeals to the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court were subsequently dismissed.

On Feb 2 this year, the FTPB announced that the former prime minister’s prison sentence had been halved to six years, and his fine reduced to RM50 million.

Najib is currently serving his jail sentence at Kajang prison.