PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet only briefly discussed Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application for a royal pardon, but ministers refused to divulge the outcome of the appeal.
“We talked about the matter briefly. Such matters are under the jurisdiction of the Pardons Board,” Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said during a press conference.
The Home Minister said the decision to grant a pardon to the former prime minister, who is in jail for corruption charges, is not within the Cabinet’s jurisdiction.
Saifuddin Nasution also said he had no locus standi to reveal the Pardons Board’s decision. “I cannot answer on behalf of the Pardons Board,” he said.
At a separate press conference, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil reminded the media not to jump the gun on the outcome of the appeal until an official statement is made.
“I ask both local and international media to wait for an official announcement,” he said during a post-Cabinet meeting press conference yesterday.
“I met a journalist from Channel News Asia (CNA), but I am not the source who provided the information.”
Quoting senior government sources, CNA had reported that Najib’s jail sentence had been reduced from 12 to six years by the Pardons Board following its meeting on Monday.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year sentence after being found guilty of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in relation to RM42mil that had been siphoned from SRC International, a former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) subsidiary. He was also fined RM210mil.
Days after he started his 12-year prison sentence, Najib filed an application for a pardon on Sept 2, 2022.
“Let’s not jump the gun. Let us wait for an official statement,” Fahmi said.
“If not, that will spur several reactions. For me, we should show professionalism in our reporting.”
On whether there is a date for the Pardons Board to announce its decision, Fahmi said he hoped it would be soon.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa confirmed on Jan 30 that the Pardons Board meeting took place at Istana Negara the day before.
Confirming her attendance at the meeting, Zaliha said an official statement by the Board is expected to be issued.
The meeting was to be the last official meeting for the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Besides his 12-year sentence, Najib is also currently on trial for charges of abuse of power that allegedly brought him financial benefit to the tune of RM2.28bil, which is believed to also have been 1MDB funds.
