8-2-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party is continuing efforts to secure a royal pardon for imprisoned former prime minister Najib Razak, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. However, he stressed any plea for clemency must respect the prerogative of newly installed King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.
This follows claims by Najib’s lawyer that the previous king, Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin, had contemplated granting a full pardon during a January 29 meeting of the Pardons Board, before deciding on a reduced 12-year sentence instead.
While praising the former king’s judgement, Zahid maintained UMNO would pursue further legal avenues for Najib’s release. But this must abide by the current king’s constitutional powers and discretion on pardons, he added.
Najib began serving his 12-year jail term in August 2022 for abuse of power and criminal breach of trust related to state fund 1MDB. But the Pardons Board announced on February 2 his sentence was halved to 6 years.
The former prime minister has maintained his innocence and remains influential in UMNO, which was voted out in 2018 partly due to the 1MDB scandal.
Lawyer Shafee Abdullah claimed on Wednesday that the former king had privately weighed a full pardon before the Pardons Board recommended Najib continue his sentence.
While royal pardons are the king’s sole authority, experts say such major decisions typically involve consultations within the Conference of Rulers.
The pardon reduction means Najib will now be released in August 2028, pending payment of a reduced RM50 million fine. But he still faces multiple charges related to 1MDB.
UMNO’s commitment to securing Najib’s release remains firm. But the party insists proper procedures must be followed to respect the new king’s constitutional powers and avoid any missteps.
