KUALA LUMPUR – Although the Pardons Board has the absolute right to decide on the fate of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Malaysia cannot be seen as allowing convicted political leaders a shortcut in serving their punishment, said Bersih.
The electoral watchdog said this could be seen as double standards with one set of laws being applied to regular people and another to the upper class.
“Why was Najib’s case prioritised for consideration when there are others who are in prison waiting for the opportunity for amnesty?
“When the Federal Court upheld his conviction, it was clear that Najib robbed the country. For Bersih, there was no need to reduce his jail term and fine.
“So, the Pardons Board must explain the reasons for its decision as Najib’s offences involved the embezzlement of millions of ringgit,” it said in a statement today,
The petition in 2022 against Najib’s pardon bid garnered more than 150,000 signatures, pointing to the lack of public appetite for his pardon, Bersih added.
The watchdog is not the only voice calling for an explanation or reasoning behind the board’s decision, even though much of it is under the Official Secrets Act 1972.
In the week leading up to yesterday’s Pardons Board announcement, the country was gripped by rumours surrounding the potential granting of a royal pardon to Najib.
The board decided to reduce Najib’s jail term from 12 years to six, with his release scheduled for August 23, 2028. The fine amount has also been reduced to RM50 million from RM210 million.
The former Pekan MP was found guilty of misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds on July 28, 2022, where he was sentenced to 12 years in jail and a RM210 million fine.
He then appealed against the sentence and conviction at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court.
Both the higher courts dismissed his appeal on December 8, 2021, and August 23, 2022, respectively. Najib was sent to jail right after his final appeal was dismissed.
Najib then filed a petition on September 2, the same year, seeking royal pardon.
On March 31, last year, the Federal Court dismissed Najib’s application to review the Federal Court’s decision that upheld the lower court’s decision against him. – February 3, 2024