IT HAS been alleged that that Pardons Board that freed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was then the Opposition leader was not properly constituted.
The absence of the representation of the Attorney-General (AG) and the Federal Territories Minister was the reason.
Nonetheless, Anwar received the full pardon from the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan in May 2018.
It was this royal pardon that allowed Anwar to contest in the 15th General Election (GE15) in November 2022 prior to assuming the premiership.
It must be remembered that the royal pardon of Anwar did not erase the fact of his earlier conviction and incarceration.
Despite the doubts cast on whether there was proper full Pardons Board, Anwar was granted the royal pardon.
Why didn’t UMNO pursue full pardon?
I find it strange that in the case of incarcerated former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak, it was not the application for full royal pardon but one that sought house arrest on the basis of a royal addendum.
Najib’s judicial review in seeking house arrest on the basis of royal addendum was said to have existed outside the Pardons Board.
In other words, the royal addendum was not put through the decision-making process in the Pardons Board.
It was the absence of this factor that Najib’s judicial review was rejected on the grounds that it lacked the constitutional basis.
The question is simple: if Anwar, then the Opposition leader, was given the full pardon despite some issues with the nature and function of the Pardons Board, why was Najib who is an ex- premier and son of the late second PM Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was not given the chance for a full pardon but instead a house arrest option.
UMNO might not have full control of the government but surely it could have pursued the full pardon for Najib assuming the party still loves him.
After all, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is Malaysia’s Deputy PM and has close relations with Anwar.
UMNO has itself to blame
Surely, this nexus could have enabled UMNO to pursue the prospect of full pardon rather than a partial one in the form of house arrest.
UMNO leaders can cry and mourn regarding the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s rejection of the house arrest bid but surely they must accept the responsibility of not pursuing a full royal pardon for Najib.
When it comes to the question of who deserves the full pardon – Anwar or Najib – the latter being the former premier deserves the full pardon.
It is not that Anwar was not deserving but the only thing is that whether the Pardons Board was legally and constitutionally constituted.
Najib’s lawyers might be appealing the decision of the KL High Court, an act that has to be logically followed through.
Anyway, my question to Anwar is simple and straightforward: what is your position on the grant of full pardon for Najib?
If you deserved it, surely Najib deserves the full royal pardon.
Meanwhile, UMNO should forget about some of the irritating comments from some DAP leaders; they (UMNO) are like candles burning bright before they are extinguished.
UMNO was for three years in power by virtue of its partnership with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition yet sadly, it never fully and rigorously pursued the option of full pardon for Najib.
Regrettably, it was just contented with the half-hearted measure of seeking house arrest.
Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.
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