Umno exerting ‘political pressure’ to seek royal pardon for Najib, says Muhyiddin

PETALING JAYA: The move by the Umno supreme council to seek a royal pardon for its former president Datuk Seri Najib Razak can be considered as exerting political pressure, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Perikatan Nasional chairman, however, said that he will leave the matter to the wisdom of the Pardons Board to make any decision.

"The matter has its own procedures and processes.

"As far as I know, anyone can apply, but they (Umno) are using political pressure," he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia after chairing a Perikatan meeting at the state-level in Kelantan on Saturday (April 8).

Also present were Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob and Kelantan Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chief Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor.

When asked about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's involvement in Najib's pardon application, Muhyiddin refused to make any comments.

The Umno supreme council on Friday (April 7) said that it would be seeking an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present an application to consider a royal pardon for Najib.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said this was unanimously agreed by party supreme council members during its meeting to request the King to consider pardoning Najib, as provided under Article 42(1) of the Constitution.

"The Umno supreme council unanimously agreed to seek an audience to present an appeal to the King, as well as a memorandum signed by 191 divisions, including the Women's, Puteri and Youth wings," said Asyraf in a statement.

Najib, 69, is currently serving a 12-year jail term in Kajang prison.

He had previously sought to overturn a decision by a Federal Court panel led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat on Aug 23.

However, on March 31, the Federal Court delivered a 4-1 majority decision, dismissing Najib's bid for leave to review his conviction and sentence in the RM42mil SRC International Sdn Bhd case.

On March 31, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli released a 78-page minority judgment that stated Najib did not have legal representation after counsel of his choice Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik had refused to represent him further in the final appeal and the Federal Court was wrong when it refused to allow Hisyam to discharge himself.

Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah had also said the dissenting judgment by Abdul Rahman will be used to support Najib's application for a royal pardon.