Decision to defer Najib’s pardon bid is Agong’s prerogative, says PM

 Anwar Ibrahim says his role was to give his views based on the law and the attorney-general's advice.

The Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had consented to defer Najib Razak’s pardon application to the next FTPB meeting.

KOZHIKODE (Kerala): Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the decision to defer former prime minister Najib Razak’s pardon application to the next sitting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTFB) was within the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion.

Anwar said his role was to give his views based on the law and advice from the attorney-general.

“But we also know that this matter falls within the discretion and authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the FTFB meeting,” he told a press conference with Malaysian media after concluding his working visit to India today.

“And, of course, the Agong must consider all (relevant) factors. We still have many cases involving corruption that we have taken up and are dealing with quite swiftly.

“The Agong himself has stressed that we need to be stricter on matters involving Tabung Haji and Felda.”

Anwar was asked to respond to PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan who had urged the government to explain the deferral, arguing it would not have happened unless a member of the board had requested for it or objected to the application.

The Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division said last Friday that the king had consented to defer Najib’s application to the next FTPB meeting.

The board, chaired by the Agong, was expected to consider Najib’s second pardon application.

Anwar said PAS should understand the rules governing the pardons board before making such claims.

He also said he was aware of the political considerations surrounding Najib’s case, including strong views from Umno leaders, but maintained that his position was guided by the rule of law and the Federal Constitution.

He further dismissed the criticism from PAS as being inconsistent, saying that the Islamic party had previously taken a harsher stance against Najib.

Najib, 72, was convicted six years ago of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds, and was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and a RM210 million fine.

The FTPB later reduced this to six years and RM50 million. He has been serving his sentence at Kajang prison since August 2022.

In December 2025, Najib was convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving more than RM2 billion linked to 1MDB. He was sentenced to 15 years’ jail and fined RM11.38 billion. He is appealing this conviction. - FMT