SHAH ALAM – Civil society group Projek SAMA has urged former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak not to seek a royal pardon for his SRC International conviction until all three of his remaining criminal cases have been fully resolved through the courts.
In a statement on Friday, the group said the convicted leader should ensure that his ongoing 1MDB-Tanore, International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and the second criminal trial involving SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRC2) cases are disposed of either through a full trial or a plea bargain under Section 172C of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) before pursuing a pardon.
The call comes after Najib's son, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, reportedly expressed hope that a landslide Barisan Nasional (BN) victory in the upcoming Johor state election would strengthen calls for Najib's pardon.
While acknowledging that several Umno leaders had since clarified that election results have no direct bearing on the pardon process, Projek SAMA said the issue should be viewed beyond procedural matters and instead be considered in light of justice and public accountability.
The group claimed that the total value involved in Najib's convicted and ongoing court cases amounted to RM8.99 billion, describing it as a sum with significant implications for the country.
Projek SAMA said the amount would be enough to build 93 new schools or 34 hospitals, and was equivalent to more than 310,000 years of savings for a Malaysian earning the median monthly wage.
It also urged Najib and his family to stop seeking what it described as a "VIP out-of-jail card" through election victories or lobbying for a royal pardon.
The group said Najib should first ensure all three remaining cases are concluded, publicly admit guilt and apologise to Malaysians for misappropriating public funds, and retire from politics before any pardon is considered.
Projek SAMA further argued that members of the Pardons Board and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong should take into account the seriousness of Najib's financial crimes and their long-term impact on the country when considering any pardon application.
It warned that Malaysians should not be left with the perception that different standards of justice apply to political elites and ordinary citizens.
The group said pardons are generally intended to complement the justice system after the judicial process has been exhausted, whether on compassionate grounds, to correct miscarriages of justice or to facilitate political reconciliation.
However, it stressed that pardons should never undermine the rule of law or erode public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Drawing comparisons with South Korea, Projek SAMA noted that several former presidents convicted of corruption or other serious offences had received pardons only after serving prison terms, retiring from politics and, in some cases, issuing public apologies and paying fines.
It said South Korea's approach demonstrated that no individual should be considered above the law.
Projek SAMA also questioned whether pardoning Najib before his remaining cases are concluded could create the perception that he is exempt from further imprisonment or weaken public trust in the justice system.
It argued that if Najib wishes to pursue a pardon immediately, he should resolve his outstanding cases through guilty pleas and negotiated settlements with the prosecution.
Otherwise, Projek SAMA said, he should wait until all ongoing trials have concluded before filing any pardon application.