I gave my views on Najib’s pardon bid honestly and candidly, says Yeoh

Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh has revealed she openly shared her perspective on former Prime Minister Najib Razak's pardon application during a Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting on September 11. Yeoh, a member of the board, stated that her views were offered "honestly and candidly, guided by my conscience and in the country's interest" in a statement.

This response came in the wake of remarks made by Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said, who deferred the pardon application. Yeoh emphasized that, in her role as the minister responsible for the federal territories, the final decision rested with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as per Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.

Azalina had previously suggested that inquiries about the deferment should be directed to Yeoh, clarifying that the legal affairs division, which falls under her ministry, operates as a secretariat to the pardons board and she is not the minister responsible for the board. In a Sept 11 statement, the division announced that the Agong agreed to postpone the decision on Najib's pardon to a later board meeting.