Nothing unlawful about pardons, Azalina tells PH

Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said has clarified that pardons are lawful under the Federal Constitution, which is the supreme law of the country. She emphasized that Article 42 of the constitution grants the king the power to grant pardons for federal territory offences. Azalina stressed that it is inappropriate to view the exercise of this constitutional power of pardon as an act of being above the law.

She further explained that judicial decisions and the pardoning process are separate matters. Courts determine guilt and sentence, while Article 42 provides a constitutional mechanism for pardons, reprieves, and remissions of sentences. Azalina defended the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decision to grant Najib Razak a conditional pardon in the SRC International corruption case, stating it does not disregard court decisions or place anyone above the law.

The Pengerang MP emphasized that each institution, including the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB), its members, the attorney-general, and the federal territories minister, must act within the powers granted by the constitution. She reiterated her stance of respecting court decisions, the constitution, and the processes outlined by the constitution, and her position as Umno information chief is clear: no one is above the law or the constitution.