PAS is demanding an explanation from the government over the postponement of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon application during the 63rd Pardons Board meeting last Friday.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said the party believed the postponement could not have happened without an instruction or objection from someone involved in the process.
“PAS believes the postponement of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application before the Pardons Board meeting could not have happened by itself unless there was an instruction or objection from any party, whether among members of the board or from another interested third party,” he said in a statement today.
Takiyuddin said the government should immediately clarify the matter publicly, arguing that it was an issue of public interest and should not be withheld from the people.
The Legal Affairs Division under the Prime Minister’s Department (BHEUU) announced on Friday that the 63rd Pardons Board meeting for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya had been held and chaired by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim.
The statement said Sultan Ibrahim had consented to Najib’s pardon application being postponed to another Pardons Board meeting to be held at a later date.
The King also consented to the release of 65 prisoners on Sept 11, 2026, according to the statement.
All non-Malaysian prisoners released are required to be deported and sent back to their respective countries within six months of their release.
Najib’s pardon application had previously been expected to be among matters considered by the Federal Territories Pardons Board, following his conviction in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
In July 2020, the former prime minister was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million.
The Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence in August 2022.
However, on Feb 2, 2024, the Pardons Board Secretariat announced that Najib’s prison sentence had been reduced by 50%, from 12 years to six years, while his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
