KUALA LUMPUR — On Friday, a cabinet minister and other members of Malaysia’s royal pardons board arrived at the royal palace, an aide to the minister confirmed to Reuters. The sighting has sparked speculation that a meeting may be convened to discuss former prime minister Najib Razak’s request for a fresh royal pardon.
Board members spotted at the palace
Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, who also serves on the pardons board, was observed entering the palace grounds. An aide verified her presence but declined to provide details about the purpose of the visit. Media reports from the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia added that the attorney‑general, another board member, was also seen arriving at the palace.
Najib’s ongoing clemency bid
Najib Razak, 73, served as Malaysia’s prime minister from 2009 to 2018 and has been incarcerated since 2022 on charges linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, a state‑owned fund he helped create. He has repeatedly sought a royal pardon to overturn his convictions.
Last week, King Sultan Ibrahim postponed a decision on Najib’s clemency request, stating that the matter would be revisited at the next board meeting, without specifying when that meeting would occur.
Background on previous pardons
In 2024, the pardons board, then chaired by the previous monarch, reduced Najib’s original 12‑year prison term by half and lowered the fines imposed on him. Najib claimed that the decision also included house arrest, but a legal effort to secure that outcome was unsuccessful.
In December of the previous year, Najb received an additional 15‑year sentence and a fine of $2.8 billion for abuse of power and money‑laundering in a separate 1MDB‑related case. He has filed an appeal against that judgment.
1MDB scandal context
The 1MDB scandal involved more than $1 billion allegedly diverted into accounts linked to Najib. While U.S. investigators described the scheme as a $4.5 billion global money‑laundering operation, Najib has denied wrongdoing, insisting he was made a scapegoat for the alleged embezzlement.
What the palace said
The royal palace did not comment on the Friday visit or any potential meeting on its official Facebook page.
Implications
If a meeting is held and the board decides to grant a new pardon, it could further reduce Najib’s remaining sentence and fines, a development that would have significant political ramifications in Malaysia. Critics of the former premier argue that any clemency would undermine accountability for the 1MDB scandal, while his supporters maintain that the legal process has been unfair.
For now, observers await the board’s next scheduled meeting, which will determine whether Najib’s bid for clemency moves forward.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
