SHAH ALAM – Umno Youth remains calm despite the decision to defer former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pardon application to a future Pardons Board meeting, said its chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh.
He took a swipe at those who continued questioning the matter, saying some had already begun complaining even though the decision had yet to be announced.
“Some people are already complaining even though the decision has not been announced yet.
“We are just relaxed even though the decision does not favour us,” he said when responding to a social media user's question in the comments section of his Facebook page on Friday.
In an earlier social media post, Dr Akmal said Umno Youth respected the decision of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim to defer Najib's pardon application to the next meeting.
He said the process must be fully respected without pressure, demands or political interference from any party.
“Umno Youth takes note of and expresses its gratitude for the decision of the 63rd Meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
“Umno Youth will continue to uphold the legal and constitutional channels. We call on all parties to respect this process and not politicise the power of pardon under the Federal Constitution,” he said.
The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department said Sultan Ibrahim had consented to Najib's pardon application being deferred to a future Pardons Board meeting.
The decision was made during the 63rd Meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya at Istana Negara on Friday.
The meeting had attracted widespread attention following Najib's pardon application, which had previously been among matters discussed in the pardon process involving the former prime minister.
Najib, 73, had previously applied for a royal pardon after being convicted and sentenced to imprisonment in the SRC International case.
On Jan 29, 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board announced that his prison sentence had been reduced from 12 years to six years, while his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
The decision followed a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board chaired at the time by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.