PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has once again stated that he would not override the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s authority with regard to a royal pardon for Najib Razak.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg at the Qatar Economic Forum yesterday, Anwar said he would urge for proper process to be followed.

“If the king were to ask for my advice, I would say, Your Majesty, go through the process,” he said.

He emphasised on the importance of adhering to due process, citing the previous Agong’s partial reduction of Najib’s sentence.

Anwar advised the king to treat Najib’s application like that of an ordinary citizen filing an appeal to the Pardons Board.

Anwar said he had made sure that Najib was provided with all the prison facilities he required because he was aware that jail is not a bed of roses.

“I am an authority on the subject,” he added, alluding to his own jail time for corruption and sodomy. He was granted a full royal pardon and released in 2018.

Last month, Anwar said the king, as the chairman of the Pardons Board, had the final say in Najib’s case.

Anwar said he would not interfere in the king’s order to grant Najib house arrest despite criticism.

“This matter is under the purview of the Pardons Board and the king’s decree. That’s my answer, based on discussions with the attorney-general and information from the Malay rulers and the king.

“We are not trying to diminish the decision of the judge,” he said.

He was responding to criticism that he had been too passive in the matter.

“Our stance is clear: the decision must be made in the Pardons Board meeting and the final decision by the king must also be made in the Pardons Board meeting.”

He said the goverment had never defied the role and power of the Malay rulers.

“Those who can’t understand the decision are not fit to be political commentators,” he said.

Previously, Anwar had stated that he would not interfere in the matter, emphasising that the government respected the independence of the Pardons Board chaired by the king.

Najib has filed a legal application seeking answers regarding the then Agong’s order allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

In support of Najib’s application, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had filed an affidavit to confirm the existence of such an addendum order. – May 15, 2024.