Don't jump the gun, wait for official announcement on Najib's pardon, Fahmi reminds media

PUTRAJAYA: Fahmi Fadzil has reminded the media not to "jump the gun" when reporting on the outcome of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's appeal for a royal pardon until an official statement is made.

"I ask both local and international media to wait for an official announcement," he said during a post-Cabinet meeting press conference on Wednesday (Jan 31)," said the Communications Minister.

He added that he had met with the journalist from a foreign news portal.

Fami also said he was not the source who provided the information.

On Tuesday (Jan 31), the foreign news portal reported that Najib's jail sentence had been reduced from 12 to six years by the Pardons Board following its meeting on Monday (Jan 29), quoting senior government sources.

"Let's not jump the gun. Let us wait for an official statement to be made and follow that due process. If not that will spur several reactions. For me, we should show professionalism in our reporting," he added.

Asked when the Pardons Board would issue a statement, he said he hoped it would be soon.

He added that the matter was discussed at the Cabinet meeting but matters related to the pardon, including a media statement, would be handled by the Pardons Board.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa confirmed on Jan 30, that a Pardons Board meeting took place at Istana Negara on Monday (Jan 29), which she attended.