Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says the decision to defer former prime minister Najib Razak’s pardon application to the next sitting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) was within the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion.
Anwar said his role was to provide his views based on the law and advice from the Attorney-General, while stressing that the final authority in such matters rested with the King.
“But we also know that this matter falls within the discretion and authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the FTPB meeting,” he told Malaysian media at a press conference after concluding his working visit to India today.
He said the King would consider all relevant factors, adding that the government continued to act firmly against corruption.
“The Agong himself has stressed that we need to be stricter on matters involving Tabung Haji and Felda,” he said.
Anwar was responding to PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, who had called on the government to explain why Najib’s pardon application was deferred.
Takiyuddin had argued that the postponement would not have happened unless a member of the Pardons Board had requested it or objected to the application.
The Prime Minister’s Department’s legal affairs division said last Friday that the King had consented to defer Najib’s application to the next FTPB meeting. The board, chaired by the Agong, was expected to consider Najib’s second pardon application.
Anwar said PAS should first understand the rules governing the Pardons Board before making such claims.
He acknowledged that Najib’s case had political implications, including strong views expressed by Umno leaders, but maintained that his own position was guided by the rule of law and the Federal Constitution.
The prime minister also dismissed PAS’ criticism as inconsistent, saying the Islamic party had previously adopted a harsher position towards Najib.
Najib, 72, was convicted in 2020 of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine.
The FTPB subsequently reduced his sentence to six years and the fine to RM50 million. Najib has been serving his sentence at Kajang Prison since August 2022.
In December 2025, Najib was also convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving more than RM2 billion linked to 1MDB. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.38 billion. He is appealing against the conviction.
