Pardons Board defers consideration of Najib's application

 

The pardon application for former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, which was expected to be heard today, has been postponed to a future Pardons Board meeting.

In a statement today, the Legal Affairs Division under the Prime Minister's Department said the matter had received the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's consent.

The statement did not mention when the next Pardons Board meeting will be held. While Article 42 of the Federal Constitution outlines the framework, membership and powers of the board, it does not set out any prescribed schedule for meetings.

Additionally, the 63rd Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting earlier today saw His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar consenting to the release of 65 other prisoners.

All non-citizen prisoners who have been granted a pardon are expected to be deported to their country of origin within six months of their release.

On Sept 9, Pakatan Harapan reiterated its position that those convicted in high-profile cases of corruption and abuse of power "must serve out the full sentence set by the courts".

The statement from the coalition led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came at a time when, among others, the Pardons Board meeting was initially said to deliberate on Najib’s pardon bid.

Minister briefed Harapan leaders

Sin Chew Daily reported that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh had briefed Harapan leaders about today’s pardon hearing during a coalition meeting in Putrajaya on Sept 8.

Harapan’s statement quickly drew Umno’s ire, with party secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (below) accusing Harapan of “indirectly exposing its true colours” over its stance on the Malay rulers and their constitutional powers, which he claimed the coalition was “belittling and questioning for its political interests”.

News about the potential of Najib’s pardon petition being heard today also coincided with Umno’s annual general assembly (AGM), which is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the BN chairperson, said Umno is “hoping for the best” outcome for Najib, noting that he is “confident” in the Agong’s discretion and wisdom.

Najib, 72, has been in prison since August 2022 after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison and slapped with a RM210 million fine.

In 2024, the Pardons Board halved his prison term to six years and reduced the fine to RM50 million.

The revised jail term for Najib’s conviction was scheduled to end by August 2028. With the one-third remission for good behaviour, he could have been out as early as last month.

However, in December last year, he was convicted of corruption for a second time and sentenced to 15 years in jail, together with a RM11.38 billion fine.

This conviction could see Najib remain in jail even if he gets clemency for the SRC International case. - Mkini