PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Razak is not receiving special treatment in prison, says his lawyer.

Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah rubbished allegations that the former premier was given the codename “merpati” (pigeon) as a prisoner and that he was given special treatment.

Shafee said “merpati” could mean transsexual and that “bird” could mean a woman and not a man.

"What is ‘merpati’ and how can you say a man is a bird. If I say he is a nice bird, won't he run away,” he said.

Shafee pointed out that Najib is not even given a specific room for his meals during breaks in court proceedings.

"If he is special, they don't even give him a room here to sit down and eat," MalayMail quoted him as saying when met at the court complex in Kuala Lumpur.

He dismissed the notion that Najib was given a first class ward at Hospital Kuala Lumpur or the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital (HRC), saying it was only a standard room.

"I myself had a better room when I was at the National Heart Institute.

"Maybe because of his ulcer, he gets food which is not spicy or oily and outside food is not allowed due to the need to monitor his diet in relation to his health condition.

Shafee said while Najib's blood pressure has returned to the normal range, the former prime minister has lost weight and suffers from stomach ulcer and knee problems.

Najib was referred to HRC for further treatment and monitoring by HKL on Monday (Sept 19).

On Sept 23, the HRC gave Najib a clean bill of health and sent him back to Kajang prison.

He is serving a 12-year sentence in Kajang Prison following the Federal Court's decision on Aug 23 to uphold his corruption conviction involving RM42mil of SRC International funds.