{
  "id": 8690453,
  "title": "Anwar denies paving way for Najib’s conditional pardon",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/anwar-denies-paving-way-for-najibs-conditional-pardon-8690453",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T12:44:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/20/anwar-denies-paving-way-for-najib-s-conditional-pardon"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has refuted claims that he facilitated the conditional pardon for former Prime Minister Najib Razak. Speaking at a Perintis Reformis event, Anwar reiterated that every prisoner has the right to appeal for a royal pardon and that the pardons board evaluates applications based on advice from the prime minister and attorney-general, with the final decision resting with the king. Anwar denied that his past statements on Najib's pardon were intended to influence the decision, instead stating that his views were influenced by current court cases, the financial penalties imposed on Najib, and their impact on public confidence in the justice system. He emphasized that granting a pardon does not interfere with ongoing legal proceedings, such as those related to 1MDB and civil suits. The conditional pardon granted to Najib allows him to serve the remaining six years of his six-year sentence in house arrest until August 23, 2028, following the payment of a RM50 million fine and other conditions.",
  "summary": "The prime minister says the pardons board had jurisdiction to evaluate applications, taking into account the views of the government, while the final decision rests with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Anwar Denies Paving Way For Najib's Pardon, Reaffirms Every Prisoner's Right To Appeal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/general-anwar-denies-paving-way-for-najibs-pardon-reaffirms-every",
        "published": "2026-09-20T10:33:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Anwar denies paving way for Najib’s conditional pardon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/anwar-denies-paving-way-for-najibs-conditional-pardon",
        "published": "2026-09-20T12:44:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}