{
  "id": 6428583,
  "title": "PKR hits back at Asyraf over claim PH questioned Agong’s pardon powers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/pkr-hits-back-at-asyraf-over-claim-ph-questioned-agongs-pardon-powers-6428583",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T13:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/09/pkr-hits-back-at-asyraf-over-claim-ph-questioned-agong-s-pardon-powers"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PKR has refuted Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki's assertion that the Pakatan Harapan questioned the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's constitutional authority to grant pardons. Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, PKR's deputy secretary-general, dismissed Asyraf's claim as a \"flawed interpretation\" that conflated concerns about corruption with disloyalty to the monarchy. PKR emphasized that the monarchy should be respected, while corruption should be opposed, stating that these are two distinct issues. Saifuddin criticized Umno for attempting to leverage the monarchy to sidestep questions regarding integrity and public confidence. He questioned why Asyraf had specifically mentioned PH in his statement, given that the coalition had not referenced any political party or particular case when advocating for individuals convicted of corruption or abuse of power to serve their sentences in full. This exchange comes in the wake of Asyraf's allegation that PH had questioned the Agong's constitutional pardon powers, as PKR and PH have called for those convicted of corruption or abuse of power to serve their sentences in full. The controversy has gained renewed prominence due to the pending Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) meeting, where Najib Razak's clemency application is likely to be considered. Najib, who was convicted six years ago for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds, is currently serving a six-year prison sentence, which the FTPB has reduced from the original 12 years. The FTPB, chaired by the Agong, subsequently halved his jail term to six years and slashed the fine to RM50 million. Najib's application to serve the remaining portion of his reduced sentence on house arrest was dismissed by High Court judge Alice Loke on December 22 of the previous year.",
  "summary": "The party's deputy secretary-general, Saifuddin Shafi Muhammad, says Umno should not equate questions about corruption with disloyalty to the king.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}