PETALING JAYA: The government must confirm whether the royal addendum in Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s case was deliberated at the Pardons Board meeting, says senior lawyer Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu.
He said the existence of the royal addendum in Najib’s royal pardon raises significant questions that demand clarification.
“It is essential for the government to confirm whether this matter was deliberated by the Pardons Board with the participation of all six designated members, including the Federal Territories Minister and the Attorney General at the material time,” Baljit said in a statement yesterday.
Under Article 42(9) of the Federal Constitution, the Pardons Board is required to consider any written opinion from the Attorney General.
To uphold the integrity of the process, the Board should disclose the minutes of its meetings leading to the decision regarding the royal addendum, said Baljit.
“If the addendum was not discussed at the Pardons Board, it would present a legal issue, making the meeting minutes vital. Such transparency is crucial to maintaining public confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the process,” he added.
Regarding Umno’s request for a full pardon for Najib, Baljit said it appeared to be more of a political statement than a legal matter.
“It is unfortunate that the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong has inherited this issue, as the role and mechanism of the Pardons Board are fundamentally straightforward, yet have been complicated by the circumstances surrounding this matter.
“At present, as I see it, there is nothing pending for the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong to deliberate on,” he said.
Baljit also noted that with ongoing court proceedings against Najib, addressing a pardon at this stage would put the Pardons Board in a difficult position.
He stressed the importance of observing due process to uphold fairness and the rule of law.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had sought the grace of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for a full pardon for Najib after the former prime minister’s successful bid at the Court of Appeal.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal, in a split 2-1 decision, granted Najib leave to appeal over his claims of a royal addendum that would allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The court overturned the High Court’s dismissal of Najib’s application for leave to initiate a judicial review concerning his imprisonment in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
