FT Pardons Board convenes at Istana Negara amid talk of Najib’s petition

On September 17, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh and Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar convened a Pardons Board meeting at Istana Negara, Malaysia. The board, chaired by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, was convened amid speculation that it would address the pardon application of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib Razak, 72, was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with a fine of RM210 million. He began serving his sentence at Kajang Prison on August 23, 2022. In 2024, the FT Pardons Board reduced his prison term to six years and his fine to RM50 million. However, Najib and his lawyers argued that the partial pardon came with conditions, including serving the remainder of his sentence at home, leading them to sue for this to be granted.

The Pardons Board dismissed Najib's application to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest on December 22 last year and he subsequently withdrew his appeal against the decision in April this year.