Pengampunan Najib: PAS perlu elak ‘lebih sudu daripada kuah’, kata penganalisis

Analyst Tawfik Yaakub from Universiti Malaya suggests that PAS should focus on issues closer to the people's concerns, such as living costs, by presenting alternative budget plans prior to the 2027 Budget Announcement. Umno, on the other hand, has reasons to voice support for the Presidential Assumption Committee's decision due to Najib's past as a party leader, but they've expressed respect for the process involved.

According to him, this stance is sufficient and demonstrates Umno's respect towards the institution and the King's authority. "I see PAS being too far away in this case and it seems like they're contesting the final issue through the Sultan's statement. A better narrative for today's opposition, particularly PAS, should be anchored on more pressing issues facing the people, such as living costs, creating alternative budgets, and preparing contingencies for the PRN Melaka," Yaakub tells FMT.

He also mentions PAS's assumption that the delay in Najib's pardon isn't random, but rather a result of requests from within the LPWP. Setiausaha Agung Takiyuddin Hassan was quoted saying that PAS believes the delay wasn't random but rather due to requests within the LPWP. Meanwhile, the Head of Governance, Law, and Management Cluster Professor of Nation, Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood, stated that PAS shouldn't question the delay as it's the prerogative of the King, Sultan Ibrahim, to grant or deny pardons.

"The issue of pardon is the prerogative of the King, Sultan Ibrahim, and shouldn't be questioned," he adds. He believes PAS can use its opposition status to raise issues directly affecting the people, such as living costs, prices of goods, unemployment, and moral issues. On Friday, the Attorney-General's Chambers announced that Sultan Ibrahim agreed to postpone Najib's pardon request for the upcoming meeting of the pardon committee.

The committee is expected to consider the second pardon request for Najib. Najib, 73, was convicted six years ago for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million. He began serving his sentence in Kajang Prison in August 2022. The LPWP then reduced his prison sentence to six years and the fine to RM50 million.

In December of last year, Najib was also implicated in another case of misuse of power and embezzlement of over RM2 billion linked to 1MDB. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and a fine of RM11.38 billion, and now appeals for the latter.