Further clemency for Najib risks eroding public trust, says activist

A leading activist has warned that granting further clemency to ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak could undermine public trust in the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) and reinforce the belief that powerful and connected individuals are above the law. Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was convicted in 2015 of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International funds, receiving a six-year prison sentence and a RM50 million fine.

The FTPB later reduced his sentence to six years and fine to RM50 million, with his current incarceration at Kajang prison since August 2022. Thomas Fann, a Projek SAMA founding member, argues that the board should not consider any additional clemency for Najib, especially given his ongoing involvement in pending criminal and civil proceedings related to the 1MDB and SRC scandals.

Fann emphasizes that doing so would send a negative message to politicians that corruption is tolerated as long as they align with the right party. Transparency International Malaysia's president, Raymon Ram, also cautions against further clemency, warning that it could create the perception of a two-tier system and weaken public confidence in the rule of law.

Ram stresses that clemency is a constitutional power that must be respected, but granting another reduction could undermine Malaysia's credibility in fighting corruption and maintaining equal treatment under the law.