6-1-2025 (KUALA LUMPUR) The United Malays National Organisation (Umno) has formally appealed to Malaysia’s King, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, seeking a full royal pardon for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, following a significant legal breakthrough at the Court of Appeal.
The appeal comes in the wake of Monday’s favourable court ruling, where Deputy Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi welcomed the judicial acknowledgment of a royal addendum that could potentially allow Najib to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest.
In a statement released shortly after the court proceedings, Ahmad Zahid expressed particular gratitude to the Pahang Sultan and former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for confirming the existence of the contentious royal addendum. This confirmation substantially bolsters the affidavits submitted by both Ahmad Zahid and Pahang Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
“We now formally appeal to His Majesty the Yang-di Pertuan Agong to exercise his constitutional prerogative powers under Articles 42(1) and (2) to grant Najib a full pardon,” Ahmad Zahid stated, whilst emphasising the party’s continued respect for ongoing legal procedures.
The Court of Appeal’s landmark decision, delivered through a majority ruling, effectively overturned the High Court’s previous dismissal of Najib’s judicial review application regarding his imprisonment in the SRC International case. Justice Mohd Firuz Jaffril, delivering the majority verdict alongside Justice Azhahari Kamal Ramli, noted that hearsay concerns were effectively addressed by new evidence, particularly a supporting affidavit from Najib’s son, Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar.
A crucial piece of evidence admitted by the court was a letter from the Comptroller of the Pahang Sultan’s Household, Datuk Ahmad Khirrizal Ab Rahman, confirming the existence of a royal addendum to Najib’s pardon application. This document, presented through Nizar’s affidavit, has emerged as a pivotal element in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Justice Firuz emphasised that judicial review applications need only demonstrate a legitimate case for argument, based on the applicant’s compromised rights or interests, and must not be frivolous or vexatious in nature. “We therefore direct this case back to the High Court for a full hearing of the substantive judicial review,” he concluded.
