KUALA LUMPUR – It is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s prerogative to issue pardons for convicted individuals, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in response to speculation that Datuk Seri Najib Razak may be granted an early royal pardon.
Noting that every convicted person has the right to appeal for a pardon, Anwar said that the issue of the former prime minister’s pardon is the sole discretion of the king and should not be “pre-empted”.
“I don’t think one should speculate… because it’s an ongoing case,” Anwar said in an interview with Bloomberg on Friday.
“The issue of pardons is the sole discretion of the king. We are a country guided by the rule of law. I have taken a strong position on the issue of governance and the rule of law.”
Former Umno president Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang Prison over charges of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust relating to SRC International funds amounting to RM42 million.
Under Article 42(5) of the federal constitution, a Pardons Board for each state as well as the federal territories shall consist of the attorney-general, the chief minister or minister in charge of the federal territories, and not more than three other members appointed by the ruler.
Since Anwar’s administration does not have a specific federal territories ministry, with its responsibilities now placed under the Prime Minister’s Department, the Pakatan Harapan chairman is also part of the Pardons Board as de facto federal territories minister.
Anwar had previously assured that there is no conflict of interest in the matter.
During the Umno annual general assembly in June, party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also deputy prime minister, said that the party’s Supreme Council remains committed to its aim of ensuring Najib’s release from prison.
This came after Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that the council had requested the king to consider granting Najib a royal pardon. – September 24, 2023