PETALING JAYA: Supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak insist that he deserves a full pardon, though a PKR leader says the move by the Pardons Board has upheld the dignity of the court.
“Najib failed to receive a full pardon. It’s painful,” said Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi.
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Differing opinions: (From left) Hassan, Nooryana and Puad Zarkashi.
The outcome of the move by the Pardons Board would weaken Umno, he said.
He said Najib was the “wow factor” in the party’s rejuvenation.
“Now the weapon is blunt,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday in reference to news that Najib, who is serving a 12-year jail sentence, will be released earlier in 2028 following the Pardons Board’s decision to reduce his sentence by half.
Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa Najib, said the family was of the view that he should be fully pardoned and freed.
“While we appreciate the sentence reduction from 12 years to six years as decided by the Pardons Board following advice and views received, we are disappointed that he did not receive a full pardon, and released immediately,” she wrote on an Instagram post with hashtags that read #PulangkanNajib (Return Najib) and #DemiNajib (For Najib).Najib, 70, has been imprisoned since Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted of misappropriating RM42mil in SRC International funds.
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Najib’s former aide Isham Jalil asked if Umno still believed that the government could help the party.
Without naming names, he said there were still those who had hoped the government could be of help here.
“What has happened now?” asked the former Umno supreme council member in a Facebook post.
He asked if Umno still wanted to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP and Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
PKR MP Hassan Karim said the decision of the Pardons Board to maintain Najib’s conviction sent out a message about upholding the judiciary system without fear or favour.
“As a member of the government’s special committee on corruption, I am of the view that the board’s decision will maintain the resolve of the Anwar Ibrahim government and the MACC to curb corruption in the country,” Hassan said in a Facebook post.
He said it was significant that Najib’s conviction was not set aside altogether.
“The decision of the board does not exonerate Najib. His conviction stands,” he said.
“The reduction of jail time and fine may be debatable, but the core matter is that the board respects the findings of guilt made by the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court.
(According to the Pardons Board, the fine to be paid by Najib has been reduced to RM50mil from RM210mil imposed on him earlier.)
Former Umno member Khairy Jamaluddin urged the Pardons Board to provide an explanation of the decision made.
Khairy said that if a crime had been committed, then people should know on what basis the sentence was reduced.
“If this was done in consideration of his service to the nation, then the board should come forward to explain.
“If not, this will give rise to a lot of speculation as to why different sets of rules are being applied to different people,” Khairy told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.
