PKR hits back at Asyraf over claim PH questioned Agong’s pardon powers

 The party's deputy secretary-general, Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, says Umno should not equate questions about corruption with disloyalty to the king.

PKR deputy secretary-general Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad says Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s claim that PH questioned the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s constitutional powers to grant pardons is flawed. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA:

PKR has rejected Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s claim that Pakatan Harapan had questioned the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s constitutional power to grant pardons.

PKR deputy secretary-general Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad labelled Asyraf’s claim a “flawed interpretation” that deliberately obscured the real issue.

He said PH had never denied the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s powers to grant pardons under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution.

“Do not equate questions about corruption with disloyalty to the king. These are two separate matters.

“The monarchy must continue to be respected, while corruption must continue to be opposed. There can be no compromise on either,” he said in a statement.

Saifuddin said Umno should not hide behind the monarchy whenever it faced questions over integrity and public confidence.

He also questioned why Asyraf had directly mentioned PH in his statement, saying the coalition had not referred to any political party or specific case when it called for those convicted of corruption or abuse of power to serve their sentences in full.

His statement comes after Asyraf accused PH of questioning the Agong’s constitutional pardon powers when it called for those convicted of corruption or abuse of power to serve their sentences in full.

Neither statement named former prime minister Najib Razak, but the exchange comes amid renewed attention on his clemency application.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) is expected to meet on Friday, with Najib’s application reportedly among the matters to be considered.

Najib, 72, was convicted six years ago of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds. He was fined RM210 million and sentenced to 12 years in jail, which he has been serving at Kajang prison since Aug 23, 2022.

The FTPB, which is chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, later halved his prison term to six years and reduced the fine to RM50 million.

On Dec 22 last year, High Court judge Alice Loke dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his reduced six-year jail term under house arrest. - FMT