Najib must apply for royal pardon in 14 days or lose Pekan seat, says Speaker

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak must apply for a royal pardon within 14 days or he will lose his Pekan seat, says Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun.

"If no application for pardon is received within the period, Najib will automatically cease to be an MP.

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According to Azhar, Article 48 of the Federal Constitution states that an individual loses his seat as a Parliament member if convicted and imprisoned more than one year or fined not less than RM2,000, including not receiving an independent pardon.

"Najib must apply for a royal pardon within 14 days and he will not lose his seat until the application is disposed of," Sinar Harian quoted him as saying on Wednesday (Aug 24).

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Azhar also said Parliament would have to wait for an official notice from the Federal Court on the conviction handed down to the former prime minister.

On Tuesday (Aug 23) the Federal Court upheld Najib's conviction of 12 years jail and RM210mil fine for misappropriating RM42mil in the SRC International Sdn Bhd trial.