KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is saddened by the decision to defer former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon application but will continue to uphold the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“We are saddened by the decision. However, we will always uphold the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the royal institution.
“We hope that His Majesty, in his wisdom, will make the best decision,” he told reporters after delivering his presidential address at the Umno General Assembly here on Friday (Sept 11).
Ahmad Zahid said Umno hoped for the best outcome for Najib.
When met, Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party always upholds the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decision.
“It is His Majesty’s prerogative. It is not right for any party to question this,” he said.
He also criticised those questioning the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s prerogative.
“On one hand, they endorse it when it comes to their leaders, but for others, they try to argue from various other perspectives,” he said.
Earlier Friday, it was reported that the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya had deferred Najib’s pardon application to a future meeting.
The Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division said the board had agreed to defer consideration of the application.
At the same meeting in Putrajaya, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, consented to the release of 65 prisoners on Friday.
Najib, 73, was convicted of misappropriating RM42mil belonging to SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210mil.
He began serving his sentence at Kajang Prison on Aug 23, 2022.
The Pardons Board subsequently halved his prison term to six years and reduced the fine to RM50mil.
On Dec 22, High Court judge Justice Alice Loke, who is now a Court of Appeal judge, dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence under house arrest.
Najib later withdrew his appeal against the decision.
