KUALA LUMPUR — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has made a “humble plea” on behalf of the party to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim to consider a pardon for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
In his winding up address at the closing of Umno general assembly today, Zahid made his appeal to the king before delegates gathered at Dewan Merdeka in the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
“Umno concedes that this matter (of Najib’s pardon) cannot be resolved at this point in time, and we respect the process.
“With a humble plea, Umno continues to hope that, in the next meeting of the Pardons Board, that Najib’s application will be given the utmost consideration.
“With utmost humility, we—the Umno general assembly convening today—respectfully appeal for Your Majesty’s gracious consent and royal prerogative to grant a full pardon to Najib,” Zahid said.
The Federal Territories Pardons Board met yesterday and decided on the release of 65 other prisoners but did not address the matter of Najib’s application for a pardon.
Instead, the matter was deferred to another meeting of the board with the Yang di-Pertuan’s consent.
The meeting of the board yesterday coincided with the start of Umno’s annual general assembly. Zahid had expressed hope to all delegates for a pardon for Najib, but after news on the board’s decision for a deferment, said he was “saddened” although he respected the King’s authority to consent to the postponement.
Najib is currently serving a reduced six-year sentence in Kajang Prison for corruption, abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International, a subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
His original sentence was 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine. The fine has been reduced to RM50 million. These reductions were granted to him by the Pardons Board in 2024. – September 12, 2026