Hassan: Najib’s Pardon a Political Opportunity for Pakatan

JOHOR BARU, Sept 20, 2026 — Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim says Pakatan Harapan (PH) should seize the political momentum following the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Najib Razak.

Hassan described the pardon as a “bola tanggung” (political opportunity), claiming it has placed Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) on the defensive ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16). He noted that before the pardon, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was under constant criticism, but public anger has now shifted towards perceptions of double standards in the justice system.

Political Opportunity

He questioned how Umno and PAS could continue promoting clean governance narratives with Najib’s presence, recalling BN’s electoral losses under Najib in 2013 and 2018. Hassan said voters would ultimately decide how the development shapes their views of political leaders.

Najib was granted a conditional pardon on Sept 18, allowing house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to a RM50 million fine.

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