Pardons Board must explain Najib's reduced sentence, says Bersatu youth chief

PETALING JAYA: The Pardons Board must explain the considerations taken and how it arrived at the decision to reduce Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s sentence, says Bersatu youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayshal Wan Ahmad Kamal.

He said this was necessary to avoid talks and confusion among the people.

He added that the Attorney-General and Prime Minister in their capacity as advisors should also issue an explanation.

However, he said all parties must respect the decision of the Pardons Board as it was chaired by the former King.

"All quarters must respect the decision of the Pardons Board which was chaired by the former Yang Dipertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah, to reduce the sentence of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak," he said in a statement on Friday (Feb 2).

However, the Machang MP said the decision was "strange" as Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and deputy prime minister had given hope to the party’s grassroots that Najib would be free.

"The same goes for the hints given by Umno leaders to members of the party," he added.

He also questioned how a foreign news outlet was able to obtain the highly confidential and sensitive information prior to the official announcement.

The Pardons Board announced that the jail sentence of the convicted former prime minister had been reduced from 12 years to six.

According to a statement by the board, Najib would be released on Aug 23, 2028 and the fine has been reduced to RM50mil from RM210mil.

"However, if the fine is not paid, a year will be added to the jail term, and the release date will then be on Aug 23, 2029," the Pardons Board secretariat said on Friday (Feb 2).