Najib’s Pardon Issue: Johor UMNO Youth Urges Attorney General to Resign

KUALA LUMPUR: Johor UMNO Youth has called on the Attorney General to step down honourably following controversy over the handling of the Pardons Board’s decision involving former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The call came after a police report was lodged against the Attorney General to ensure that investigations into the matter could be conducted transparently and with integrity.

Johor UMNO Youth Chief Noor Azleen Ambros expressed his gratitude to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, for His Majesty’s decree concerning the Pardons Board’s decision on September 18, 2026, involving a reduction in Najib’s sentence.

“The statement issued by Istana Negara on November 7 clarified that the decision was made based on His Majesty’s powers and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Constitution,” he said.

However, Noor Azleen expressed regret over the Attorney General’s handling of the implementation of the decision, which allegedly raised questions about compliance with the Pardons Board’s ruling.

“The need for Istana Negara and the Prime Minister’s Office to issue separate statements on November 7 indicates that there is still confusion that needs to be clarified to the public,” he added.

According to the royal decree issued by Istana Negara, all conditions stipulated in the Conditional Pardon Order granted to Najib had been fulfilled, and its implementation should not give rise to confusion or prolonged uncertainty.

The decree also emphasised that the order was clear and unrelated to any other cases involving Najib.

It further clarified that the power of pardon is a royal prerogative provided for under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution. The exercise of this power must be respected in accordance with the position of the Constitutional Monarchy and the principle of the rule of law.

The statement also stressed that there should be no confusion over the interpretation of the order that could lead to prolonged uncertainty regarding the implementation of a decision already approved by His Majesty.

Media reports said UMNO had confirmed that all procedures for the payment of the RM50 million fine had been completed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in the morning, fulfilling a condition for Najib to serve his sentence under house arrest.

However, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) was subsequently reported to have temporarily deferred the implementation of Najib’s house arrest pending further clarification on the interpretation of the Conditional Pardon Order approved by Sultan Ibrahim.

The AGC was quoted as saying that the deferment followed legal questions concerning the interpretation of the order, particularly the implications of the RM50 million fine payment on the remainder of Najib’s prison sentence in the SRC International case.

According to the AGC, two interpretations required further examination.

The first interpretation is that the payment of the RM50 million fine merely fulfils the financial penalty component of the sentence, while Najib’s prison sentence in the SRC International case continues until August 23, 2028.

The AGC also takes the view that house arrest constitutes an alternative method or location for serving the remainder of a prison sentence, rather than the termination of the sentence itself.

The second interpretation is that payment of the RM50 million fine constitutes the condition allowing the pardon to take full effect, with implications for the entire sentence in the SRC International case, including the prison sentence being deemed completed.

Astro AWANI