Azalina: A pardon does not put anyone above the law
NO one is above the law or the Federal Constitution, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said in defending the constitutional basis for the Pardons Board’s decision allowing former prime mini...
Azalina Othman Said, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, defended the Pardons Board's decision allowing former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest. Azalina emphasized that no one, including individuals, governments, or institutions, is above the law or the Federal Constitution.
She clarified that the pardon power provided under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution is not an authority outside the law, but is expressly provided for by it. The Pardons Board, she explained, does not override judicial decisions or set aside court rulings, but rather has a constitutional mechanism for pardons, reprieves, and remissions of sentences.
Najib Razak was granted a conditional royal pardon, enabling him to complete his reduced sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to a RM50 million fine. Azalina urged respect for the court's decision, the Constitution, and the process outlined by the Constitution.
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