KUALA LUMPUR — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has once again voiced hope that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will be granted a full royal pardon, saying the former leader has already served three years in prison and deserves serious consideration.
Addressing Makkal Sakti’s 17th annual general assembly in Perai, Penang today, Zahid said he trusted the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who chairs the Federal Territories Pardons Board and holds the constitutional authority to decide on the matter.
“We have full confidence in His Majesty as a just ruler who is sympathetic to those who have gone through the legal process and served their sentence. We pray and hope for a pardon, but we must never pressure or coerce the King. He knows when and what decisions to make,” said the Barisan Nasional chairman, reported Free Malaysia Today (FMT).
Zahid’s remarks come on the eve of the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on Najib’s alleged royal addendum tomorrow, which could determine whether he is allowed to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest.
Najib has been imprisoned since 23 August 2022 after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. He applied for a royal pardon on 2 September 2022. In February 2024, the Pardons Board reduced his sentence from 12 years to six and cut his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Under Articles 42(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution, the King has the prerogative to grant pardons for offences committed within the Federal Territories, based on the Board’s advice.
Describing himself as a “true friend” of Najib, Zahid pledged to continue championing the former premier’s cause. “I will continue to do so until the end of my life. I sincerely hope and pray that Datuk Seri Najib will be granted a pardon in the near future,” he said. — December 21, 2025