Ask Hannah, Azalina says on Najib’s pardon bid

Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said clarified that she is not the person responsible for the Federal Territories Pardons Board. When asked about the postponement of former Prime Minister Najib Razak's pardon application, she directed inquiries to Hannah Yeoh, the Federal Territories Minister who does sit on the Federal Territories Pardons Board.

Azalina explained that the Prime Minister's Department's legal affairs division, while under her purview, merely serves as a secretariat to the pardon boards in each state. The Federal Territories, Menteris Besar (state chief ministers), and respective board chairs are the executive representatives on these boards, she stated according to Berita Harian.

On Friday, the Prime Minister's Department's legal affairs division announced that Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim had agreed to defer Najib's application to the next FTPB meeting. The PAS party called for transparency from Putrajaya, arguing it was a matter of public interest. Pardons board deliberations are classified under the Official Secrets Act.

Najib, 72, was convicted six years ago for embezzling RM42 million from SRC International funds. He was fined RM210 million and sentenced to 12 years in prison, serving time at Kajang prison since August 2022. The FTPB subsequently reduced his sentence to six years and fine to RM50 million. In December 2025, Najib was convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving over RM2 billion from the 1MDB scandal. He received a 15-year jail term and a RM11.38 billion fine, with an ongoing appeal.