KUALA LUMPUR – Umno has been accused by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of applying political pressure in a desperate bid to secure a royal pardon for its disgraced former president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, said while any decision on the matter will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board, certain processes and procedures must be adhered to.
“As far as I am concerned, anyone can apply (for a pardon), but they (Umno) are using political pressure,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia after chairing a state-level PN meeting in Kelantan yesterday.
Muhyiddin, however, declined to comment on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s admission yesterday that he would be on the Pardons Board hearing Najib’s application.
This, he said, is because the matter is done in accordance with the law.
Muhyiddin’s comment comes following Anwar’s confirmation yesterday that he would be part of Najib’s pardon process, but the prime minister had maintained that there is no conflict of interest.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman explained that this is because the hearing of pardon applications will have to abide by due process, while the final decision will be made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“Although there is a process to follow, and I will be in that process, in the end, as we know, the question of awarding of honorific titles and pardon is at the Agong’s discretion.”
Under Article 42(5) of the federal constitution, a Pardons Board for each state as well as the federal territories shall consist of the attorney-general, the chief minister or minister in charge of the federal territories, and not more than three other members appointed by the ruler.
Since Anwar’s administration lacks a specific federal territories ministry – with its responsibilities now placed under the Prime Minister’s Department – he is regarded as the de facto minister, and would hence sit on the Pardons Board.
Previously on Friday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party’s Supreme Council has agreed to submit an appeal to the Agong urging a full pardon for Najib, and is seeking an audience with the king.
He said party leaders from 191 divisions, including party wings, have signed a memorandum appeal for the pardon.
This follows the Federal Court’s recent decision to reject Najib’s review application to overturn its own ruling last year, which upheld the former Umno president’s guilty verdict and 12-year jail sentence in his SRC International case. – The Vibes, April 9, 2023
