A senior figure from the Democratic Action Party has suggested that Malaysia may need to confront the sensitive issue of a full royal pardon for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, arguing that the idea now warrants serious and mature discussion rather than outright dismissal.
Former Bangi member of parliament Ong Kian Ming said his thinking on the matter had evolved since 2023, when he previously regarded a full pardon for Najib as a firm red line for DAP. He noted that subsequent political and legal developments had prompted him to reassess that position, particularly after the discharge not amounting to an acquittal granted to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ong explained that his reassessment was influenced by the concept of a broader political amnesty, first raised publicly in 2023, which proposed resolving several high-profile cases across the political divide. Under such an approach, a full pardon for Najib — potentially after the conclusion of his remaining 1MDB-related proceedings — could be accompanied by the discontinuation of cases involving other senior political figures from different parties.
He said the rationale behind such a proposal was to create space for what he described as a political reset, allowing Malaysia to move away from a cycle in which successive governments pursue legal action against their rivals after gaining power. According to Ong, ending this pattern could contribute to greater political stability and maturity over the long term.
He also pointed to recent legal developments involving other political figures, including ongoing appeals in corruption cases and efforts by the authorities to recover assets linked to past leaders, as factors shaping the current debate. In his view, these actions underscored the need for a broader national conversation about how justice, accountability, and political reconciliation should be balanced.
On December 23, 2025, the High Court dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. In her written judgment, Justice Alice Loke Yee Ching stated that the Pardons Board had considered both the request for a full pardon and the decision to grant a 50 percent reduction in sentence during its deliberations.
Meanwhile, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reiterated on December 22, 2025, that Najib deserved consideration for a full royal pardon, citing the time already served. UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Ahmad Maslan also indicated that the party would continue pressing for Najib’s release through lawful means.
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