1MDB Case Unrelated to Najib’s Royal Pardon Decree

PEKAN: The sentencing issue involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case should not be linked to the implementation of the conditional royal pardon decree granted to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the SRC International case.

Pekan UMNO Division Secretary Datuk Nor Azita Abdul Rahman said this was clear from the understanding of the royal pardon decree, which allows the former Prime Minister to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest after paying the RM50 million fine.

She said there should be no confusion over the matter, as the condition requiring payment of the fine had already been fulfilled on November 6.

“Everyone understands the conditional royal pardon decree, which states that once Datuk Seri Najib pays the RM50 million fine, he can serve the remaining approximately two years of his sentence at home, and the decree does not involve any other cases.

“Therefore, if the argument now is that he is facing the 1MDB case and other matters, I believe that is irrelevant because the focus of this royal pardon decree is clearly the SRC case,” she told reporters here today.

She said this after the Pekan UMNO Division lodged a police report at the Pekan District Police Headquarters (IPD) over the Attorney General’s Chambers’ (AGC) decision to temporarily defer the implementation of Najib’s house arrest.

Nor Azita said the report was lodged to enable the police to investigate the matter and to seek clarification from the government regarding the reasons for the deferment, which she said had raised questions among the public.

She said they had also taken into account the completed payment of the RM50 million fine and the issuance of an Order of Discharge by the High Court on the same date.

According to her, the document had also been submitted by Najib’s lawyers to Kajang Prison authorities, and she expressed hope that the development would lead to the implementation of the royal pardon decree as approved by His Majesty.

On November 6, the AGC announced that the implementation of Najib’s house arrest had been temporarily deferred to allow further examination and clarification regarding the interpretation of the Conditional Pardon Order and the implications of the Order of Discharge issued by the High Court.

However, Istana Negara yesterday stressed that the Conditional Pardon Order approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, was clear, unambiguous and unrelated to any other cases involving Najib.

His Majesty also emphasised that all conditions stipulated in the order had been fulfilled.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA