Officials depart as FT Pardons Board meeting concludes at Istana Negara

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Vehicles carrying Hannah Yeoh and Tan Sri Razarudin Husain were seen leaving Istana Negara after the Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting wrapped up around 9.40am today. Attorney-General Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar attended the session. No official statement on the outcome was released as of 9.40am, according to Astro Awani.

Speculation has surged that the board met to discuss the royal pardon petition of former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was put on hold during the board's previous meeting on September 11. Najib, serving a reduced sentence for misappropriating RM42 million, had his case deferred for further review. His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the board's chair, had previously pardoned 65 inmates.

Najib, 72, faces a six-year prison term and a RM50 million fine, after his initial 12-year sentence was halved to six years in early 2024. Doubts arose over a claim by Najib and his legal team about a royal addendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his term under house arrest. The High Court rejected his judicial review application in December, and Najib abandoned his appeal in April.

The viral document suggesting Yeoh's endorsement of Najib's house arrest was dismissed by her on Wednesday night, as she confirmed her signature was not on the paper.