Anwar today said the Pardons Board has made its decision over Najib’s application. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 2): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said the Pardons Board has made its decision over convicted former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application.
However, Anwar said the public should wait for the board to announce the matter.
“There is certainty, wait for the announcement,” he told reporters when asked about the matter after a lunch at the Pertama Complex food court here.
After attending Friday prayers at the Kuala Lumpur Masjid Jamek, Anwar then said he believes that the announcement from the Pardons Boar is to be expected today.
“I believe so,” he said when asked whether if the announcement would come today.
Najib’s pardon received the media spotlight recently after the local daily Utusan Malaysia reported that he will receive a royal pardon over his 12-year prison sentence after being convicted for the misappropriation of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s RM42 million.
The report was retracted a few hours later as the Malay newspaper cited an unverified source.
On the same day, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa, who sits on the Pardons Board, reportedly told Berita Harian that the board will issue an official statement regarding this.
Yesterday, Dr Zaliha confirmed that the board is expected to release the statement within this week.
Najib has been jailed since August 23, 2022, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for criminal breach of trust, power abuse and money laundering about SRC’s RM42 million.
To date, Najib has been a prisoner for more than one year and five months.
Najib filed his application for a pardon on September 2, 2022, which was just days after he started serving his 12-year jail term at the Kajang prison.
As Najib’s SRC offences were allegedly committed in the Federal Territories, the Pardons Board would be tasked with considering his application.
Under the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong chairs the meetings of the Pardons Board for the federal territories, which comprises the attorney general, the Federal Territories minister, and a maximum of three other members appointed by the Agong. — Malay Mail