{
  "id": 8440694,
  "title": "All’s well in unity govt despite Najib’s conditional pardon, says Zahid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/alls-well-in-unity-govt-despite-najibs-conditional-pardon-says-zahid-8440694",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T09:40:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/19/all-s-well-in-unity-govt-despite-najib-s-conditional-pardon-says-zahid"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi affirmed on Thursday that the unity government's components maintain a positive relationship, despite former Prime Minister Najib Razak receiving a conditional pardon. Speaking to Bernama, Zahid emphasized the professional approach taken by Putrajaya in managing governmental affairs, with Cabinet decisions made collectively.\n\nThe Yang di-Pertuan Agong recently granted Najib the option to serve his remaining six-year jail sentence for the SRC International case at home, provided he fulfills a RM50 million fine. According to Zahid, this decision by the king, after a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board, was lawful and constitutional. He cautioned against questioning the royal prerogative, urging others to respect the decision.\n\nUmno supported the conditional pardon and established a fund to aid Najib in settling his RM50 million fine, enabling him to complete his sentence under house arrest. However, the Pakatan Harapan presidential council maintained that no individual is above the law; those convicted must serve their sentences according to the law and the Federal Constitution.\n\nUmno Information Chief Azalina Othman Said responded to PH's stance, emphasizing that pardons are lawful within the country, as they are provided for under the Federal Constitution.",
  "summary": "The deputy prime minister reiterates that the king's decision is lawful and constitutional, and warns against questioning the royal prerogative.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Hubungan parti kerajaan perpaduan kekal baik di sebalik pengampunan Najib, kata Zahid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/hubungan-parti-kerajaan-perpaduan-kekal-baik-di-sebalik-pengampunan",
        "published": "2026-09-19T08:41:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Unity govt party ties still good, Zahid says after Najib granted house arrest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/unity-govt-party-ties-still-good-zahid-says-after-najib-granted-house",
        "published": "2026-09-19T09:53:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}