Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, will join the Pardons Board panel responsible for deliberating on convicted former premier Najib Razak’s appeal for a royal pardon.
Anwar emphasized that any person in Malaysia can seek a pardon, but the decision will adhere to the legal process and laws.
“I will be part of the process and on the matters of awarding honorific titles and pardons, that is the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“We don’t have to debate this in public because we have to go through that process,” said Anwar after launching a program at a People’s Housing Project in Shah Alam on Saturday (April 8).
The 75-year-old also said there is no issue of conflict of interest with him being part of the Pardon’s Board.
“I have not seen the process. We have to look at the case. I think it’s premature for me to comment now because I have not seen anything except Umno’s resolution,” said Anwar.
Anwar reiterated that any convict has the right to appeal.
“I don’t want to preclude anyone in that matter. But the process is, of course, very elaborate. It has to be followed and finally, the decision is solely the discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan,” said Anwar.
Article 42(5) of the Constitution specifies that the Pardon Board comprises the Attorney-General, the Chief Minister or Mentri Besar, or the Federal Territories Minister, and a maximum of three members appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Last December, the Federal Territories Ministry was transformed into a department that falls under the Prime Minister’s Department.
Despite announcing his Cabinet in December, Anwar did not disclose the appointment of a Federal Territories Minister.
On Apr. 3, Najib’s lawyer Shafee Abdullah revealed to the press that the dissenting judgment by Federal Court judge Justice Abdul Rahman Sebli will be used to support the Pekan MP’s application for a Royal pardon.
In his dissenting view, the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Justice Abdul Rahman said Najib did not have an effective legal representation after the counsel of his choice, Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, refused to represent him further in the final appeal and the Federal Court was wrong when it refused to allow Hisyam to discharge himself.
On Mar. 31, the Federal Court delivered a 4-1 majority decision in dismissing Najib’s bid to review a decision by a Federal Court panel led by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat which upheld his conviction and sentence for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds on Aug. 23 last year.
During the weekend, the Umno supreme council declared its intention to request the King to grant a royal pardon to the former Prime Minister, who is presently serving a 12-year sentence at Kajang prison.
Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, the Umno secretary-general, stated that the supreme council had reached a unanimous decision to seek a meeting with the King and present a memorandum urging for Najib’s pardon.
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