{
  "id": 8270227,
  "title": "PH unlikely to lose support over Najib house arrest, says analyst",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/ph-unlikely-to-lose-support-over-najib-house-arrest-says-analyst-8270227",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T15:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/18/ph-unlikely-to-lose-support-over-najib-house-arrest-says-analyst"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Political analyst Azmi Hassan believes Pakatan Harapan will not suffer electoral losses over the conditional pardon granted to former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Azmi stated that PH supporters would comprehend the roles played by DAP's Hannah Yeoh, who serves as Federal Territories Minister, and PH Chairman Anwar Ibrahim, who is the current Prime Minister. Anwar has expressed respect for the monarchy's constitutional powers to grant pardons while upholding his opposition to corruption and commitment to accountability. Similarly, the DAP has consistently demanded justice and accountability regarding the 1MDB financial scandal and affirmed Yeoh's actions align with the party's principles in her role on the Federal Territories Pardons Board.\n\nAccording to Azmi, the political impact on PH would likely be minimal, with the RM50 million condition attached to Najib's house arrest potentially satisfying supporters on both sides of the political divide. He noted that Umno supporters are content with the house arrest, despite the additional fine, as it aligns with their preferences. However, University of Tasmania academic James Chin expressed concern that the conditional pardon might carry a significant political cost for Anwar and the DAP, given the severity of Najib's case. Chin highlighted that Najib's case was unique due to its scale, likening it to \"grand kleptocracy,\" as he allegedly stole the entire state.",
  "summary": "Azmi Hassan says Pakatan Harapan supporters are likely to understand that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has discretion over pardons.",
  "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."
}