SEBERANG JAYA – Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed hope that Datuk Seri Najib Razak will be granted a royal pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA), after the former prime minister has spent three years in prison.
Zahid said that as a close friend, he has consistently prayed for Najib to be granted clemency at an appropriate time, while stressing that the power to grant a pardon rests solely with His Majesty.
“I, and all of us, cannot bear to see Datuk Seri Najib continue to languish in prison.
“However, the absolute authority to grant a pardon lies with His Royal Highness the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and this should not be questioned.
“Yes, we pray and yes, we hope — but we must not pressure or compel His Majesty. He knows when the time is right to make a decision and what needs to be done,” he said.
Zahid was speaking at the opening of the 17th Annual General Meeting of Parti Makkal Sakti here on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the High Court today is expected to decide whether Najib will be allowed to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest or remain incarcerated at Kajang Prison.
High Court judge Datuk Alice Loke is scheduled to deliver her decision on Najib’s judicial review application seeking permission to serve the balance of his sentence at home.
Najib, 72, is currently serving his prison sentence after being convicted by the High Court for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
In the high-profile case, Najib had exhausted all levels of appeal after failing to overturn his conviction and sentence.
On Feb 2 last year, the Pardons Board announced that Najib’s original sentence of 12 years’ imprisonment and a RM210 million fine had been reduced to six years in jail and a RM50 million fine.
According to the statement, Najib is scheduled to be released on Aug 23, 2028.