Post by : Rohit Dhiman

Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh has said she gave her views on former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak’s pardon application honestly and openly during a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board on September 11. Yeoh, who is a member of the board because of her position as the minister responsible for the federal territories, said her position was formed after she reviewed the written opinion submitted by Malaysia’s attorney-general. She said her views were guided by her conscience and what she considered to be the national interest.m The statement comes after the latest development involving Najib Razak pardon, whose application was not decided at the September 11 meeting. The decision was instead deferred to a future meeting of the Pardons Board.

Yeoh Explains Her Role in the Pardons Board

Yeoh said she participated in the proceedings in her official capacity as the minister responsible for the Federal Territories. Her comments followed remarks by Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said, who said questions about the deferment of Najib’s application should be directed to Yeoh. Azalina had explained that although the Legal Affairs Division falls under her ministry, the division's role in the Pardons Board process is primarily that of a secretariat. She therefore said she was not the minister responsible for the board. Yeoh's response was aimed at clarifying her position and role in the constitutional process rather than suggesting that she had authority to make the final decision on the application.

Final Authority Rests With Malaysia's King

Yeoh also referred to Article 42 of Malaysia's Federal Constitution, stressing that the authority and final decision concerning a pardon rests with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The Federal Territories Pardons Board is chaired by the King and includes the attorney-general, the Federal Territories minister and other members. The constitutional process gives the King the authority to grant a pardon, reprieve or respite. The distinction is important because individual board members may express their views during deliberations, while the final constitutional authority remains with the King.

Najib's Pardon Application Deferred

The latest meeting of the board on September 11 did not result in a final decision on Najib's application. A statement from the Prime Minister's Department said the King had consented to defer consideration of the application to a future meeting of the Pardons Board. The deferment means that Najib's latest request for clemency remains unresolved. The date of the next meeting at which the application could be considered has not been publicly confirmed. The meeting also dealt with other clemency matters, with the King consenting to the release of 65 prisoners, according to the government statement.

Background to Najib's Clemency Request

Najib is currently serving a prison sentence following his conviction in the SRC International case linked to the wider 1MDB scandal. His original sentence was 12 years, but an earlier Pardons Board decision reduced the term to six years and lowered the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million. His latest clemency request has also been discussed in connection with his request to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Earlier reports said the Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting had drawn attention because of speculation that the matter could be considered. However, the board's agenda was not publicly disclosed before the meeting.

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Why the Latest Statement Matters

Yeoh's comments provide clarification about the position she took during the board's deliberations and the constitutional limits of her role. The statement also comes amid continued public and political attention surrounding Najib's pardon application, particularly because the former prime minister remains a prominent figure in Malaysian politics and his clemency request has generated discussion within political circles. The latest development, however, is that no final decision has been announced. The application has been deferred to a future sitting of the Pardons Board.

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