KUALA LUMPUR – The Pardons Board should disclose the reasons behind its decision to grant ex-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak a reduced prison sentence and fine, said Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh.
He said Najib’s case was far from ordinary, as nine judges – from the high court to the Federal Court – convicted Najib, and that the findings of guilt against him were “beyond doubt”.
“The position was compounded by the fact that Najib committed the offences when he was head of government, with utter disregard for the consequences of his actions to the nation and her people,” he said in a statement.
“A punishment of 6 years and a RM50 million fine is certainly inadequate given the gravity of Najib’s crime.
“As the matter is one of public interest, I urge the Pardons Board to explain the reasons for their decision forthwith as a failure to do so will fuel speculation that the decision was unjustified.”
Yesterday, the Pardons Board secretariat for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya announced that Najib’s jail sentence was halved from 12 years to six years, while his fine dropped from RM210 million to RM50 million.
He would have to serve an additional year in prison in default if he fails to pay the RM50 million fine.
Meanwhile, Ramkarpal said the reduced sentence would negatively impact the nation’s performance in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), and obstruct the government’s efforts to fight corruption.
He noted that Malaysia targeted a top-25 position in the CPI in the next decade, according to the 12th Malaysia Plan’s mid-term review, and that 68 of the 111 anti-corruption initiatives under the National Anti-Corruption Plan have been achieved.
While acknowledging that various factors influence a nation’s effort to combat corruption, Ramkarpal said the rate of arrests and the matching severity of sentences were the most important.
“The efforts of the government in combating corruption above have been seriously undermined by the developments in Najib’s case as the seriousness of his offence is known the world over,” he said.
“Such developments can result in the perception that the government does not take the menace of corruption seriously.”
Najib began serving his prison sentence on August 23, 2022, after losing his final appeal at the Federal Court. He submitted his application for a royal pardon in September of the same year.
He was convicted by the high court in July 2020 of corruption involving RM42 million of funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd. – February 3, 2024