The Pardons Board recommended No Pardon for Najib, Shafee Now Says

The letter with the seal that the Pertuan Agong had previously indicated the possibility of a difference of opinion between His Majesty and the Board of Pardons regarding Najib Razak’s sentence.

The letter was read by Najib’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, today which revealed that the Pardons Board did not advise the Agong to reduce the former prime minister’s sentence.

Shafee said the announcement in the letter was made by the Federal Territories minister Zaliha Mustafa.

He said, it mentioned that the Board of Pardons, based on Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, on Jan 29 advised the Agong that Najib continue the remaining sentence.

However, Shafee said, the letter also mentioned the Agong’s order that, “it is reasonable in my opinion, mercy should be given to Najib.”

Pardons Board

The letter contained an order from Al-Sultan Abdullah exercising his authority under Article 42 as well as other powers, so that the sentence against Najib be halved and the fine reduced to RM50 million.

Article 42 relates to the power of pardon and the power to form the Pardon Board.

Shafee said the letter signed by Zaliha was accepted by Najib as an involved party.

However, the lawyer expressed doubt whether the letter was written on January 29, the day the Pardon Board decided on Najib’s application.

He imagined it was written after the Legal Division issued a statement announcing the Pardon Board’s decision on Feb. 2.

He said the letter did not contain errors like the February 2 statement – which included saying Najib had obtained a 50 percent reduction in fines.

Press Conference

Earlier in the press conference, Shafee hinted that Al-Sultan Abdullah wanted to grant a full pardon to Najib.

“I was told and I am sure it happened.

“Otherwise I wouldn’t dare tell you that on Jan 29, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is thinking of granting a full pardon.

“But his majesty wants certainty,” claimed Shafee.

He claimed the Agong then gave ballot papers to “four” non-permanent members of the Pardon Board to answer the question of whether a full pardon should be granted.

The board should only have three non-permanent members, in addition to the Agong, the attorney general and the Federal Territories minister.

Shafee later said he did not know the result of the vote but it later led to the decision of Najib’s sentence being commuted, without pardon.

He said that the matter showed that the Agong had the absolute right to decide on the pardon but he chose to listen to the views of other parties.

Shafee also revealed that Najib is considering making a new amnesty application to obtain release.

Critics think Najib does not deserve mercy while his supporters expect “Bossku” to get a full pardon.

So the Pardons Board members, non-permanent members, it seems were not in favour of a free Najib. Good job Pardons Board members. We should all celebrate the Pardons Board members who voted against Najib then.