Anwar: Najib pardon decision guided by law, Constitution and due process

In a recent development, the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) has deferred discussing former Prime Minister Najib Razak's pardon application to the next meeting. The People's Action Party (PAS) has urged the government to shed light on the reason behind this decision. PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan believes that the matter would not have been postponed unless there was a request or opposition to the application within the FTPB itself.

Consequently, PAS is demanding that the government immediately explain this matter to the public, as it is a matter of public interest.

The FTPB's proceedings are governed by the Official Secrets Act, which classifies them as confidential. On Friday, the Prime Minister's Department's legal affairs division revealed that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim had agreed to defer Najib's application until the following FTPB meeting. The board, chaired by the Agong, was originally set to review Najib's second pardon application.

At 72 years old, Najib was previously convicted six years ago for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International, fined RM210 million, and sentenced to a 12-year jail term. He has been incarcerated at Kajang prison since August 2022.

Following this, the FTPB reduced his prison term to six years and his fine to RM50 million. In December 2025, Najib was additionally convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving over RM2 billion linked to the 1MDB scandal. He received a 15-year jail sentence and a RM11.38 billion fine, with the latter being subject to an ongoing appeal.