KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's recent visit to Kajang Prison to meet convicted former leader Datuk Seri Najib Razak went by the book, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

Saifuddin Nasution said he was notified by Prisons Commissioner-General Datuk Nordin Muhamad that "special permission” had been granted to Ahmad Zahid over the visit that that raised eyebrows and prompted questions about whether procedures had been followed or if there had been an abuse of power involved.

"The only person other than me to authorise the special permission is the prisons commissioner-general; he issued it under Regulation 86 of the Prisons Regulation 2000.

"The prisons commissioner-general notified me, and so I know. Next, procedures and everything are by him.

"The important thing is that he notified me, and I'm aware,” he told a press conference at Parliament here this afternoon.

Saifuddin Nasution cited Regulation 86 of the Prisons Regulation 2000, which states that any contact between the prisoner with its family and friends should be allowed, with restrictions.

"And Regulation 89 states that no outside food is allowed, unless both are given special permission, which was given to Bagan Datuk MP to visit Kajang Prison,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, told party delegates during its 2023 general assembly last week that he had visited former prime minister Najib in Kajang Prison recently and spent two hours discussing the progress of a pardon application for the latter.

Ahmad Zahid said he was accompanied by Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah who is also an Umno supreme council member and they had shared a meal with Najib’s favourite food.

Ahmad Zahid said he was accompanied by Umno Supreme Council member Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and the visit was to inform Najib about the progress of his pardon for his 12-year jail sentence.

Najib started serving his 12-year jail sentence at Kajang Prison on August 23 last year after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for embezzling RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former unit of sovereign investment firm 1MDB.

Umno – which is part of the "unity government” formed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – has said it will apply for a pardon for Najib who led the Barisan Nasional coalition to defeat in Election 2018.