KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said he was hoping for the best when the Pardons Board considers former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s clemency bid tomorrow.
Zahid reiterated today that the power of the pardon was constitutionally vested in the Yang diPertuan Agong.
“I am confident that His Majesty’s discretion and wisdom will determine the final decision, which is His Majesty’s absolute prerogative to announce,” he told reporters at the Umno general assembly here.
The Federal Territories Pardons Board is expected to discuss Najib’s latest application for tomorrow.
FMT reported that sources familiar with the matter said Najib’s application was expected to be among the issues raised at the board’s meeting, although it remained unclear whether the meeting would result in a decision or merely a discussion.
A separate source told the online news portal that Najib could potentially be allowed to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, although it was unclear whether the option would be considered at the meeting.
Najib, 72, was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with a RM210 million fine. He began serving his sentence at Kajang Prison on Aug 23, 2022.
In 2024, the Pardons Board halved his prison term to six years and reduced the fine to RM50 million.
However, Najib and his lawyers subsequently insisted that the partial pardon came with a royal addendum for him to serve out his remaining time at home, eventually suing to have this granted.
On Dec 22 last year, High Court judge Alice Loke dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence under house arrest. Najib withdrew his appeal against the decision in April this year.
