A REPORT on the question of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who was imprisoned on a graft-related conviction, being pardoned by the Pardons Board has been retracted by a Malay-language daily today.
Utusan Malaysia said on its website that it has retracted the news uploaded earlier due to facts that cannot be verified, and apologised to readers.
Sources close to Putrajaya have told The Vibes that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has left the matter of pardoning Najib to the king’s wisdom.
Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Mustafa Billah Shah ended his reign as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong today.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has called for a special press conference at his office in Putrajaya at 3.30pm tomorrow. The intention of the presser has not been specified.
Earlier this morning, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa had briefly said that an official statement will be issued regarding the matter of Najib's release by the Pardons Board.
She said that a meeting of the board was held at Istana Negara but did not elaborate on when the statement will be issued.
Dr Zaliha added that she was present at the meeting.
Najib, who is also a former Pekan MP, was serving a 12-year jail term for corruption involving SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. He was also required to pay a RM210 million fine.
He began his sentence on August 24, 2022 after failing to have his conviction and sentence overturned by the Federal Court.
Then, on March 31 last year, the Federal Court rejected his review application challenging its decision to uphold his guilty verdict and 12-year jail sentence. – The Vibes, January 30, 2024
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