KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 — The decision to grant a conditional pardon to former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should not be regarded as a decision by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or Pakatan Harapan, PKR Wanita chief Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said.
Fadhlina, who is also Education Minister, said the granting of a pardon is within the jurisdiction of the King as provided for under the Federal Constitution.
“We must be honest with the facts. The granting of a pardon is the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as provided for under the Federal Constitution. Wanita PKR respects the decision and upholds the institution of the Constitutional Monarchy.
“Political differences should not lead us to obscure the position of the Constitution or portray this decision as though it were a decision by the Prime Minister or Pakatan Harapan,” she said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Fadhlina said the conditional pardon granted to Najib would naturally elicit various reactions, acknowledging the disappointment and anger felt by some quarters.
She said the government nevertheless has a responsibility to provide an explanation to the people, stressing that respecting the decision to grant the pardon does not mean that PKR’s stance on corruption and abuse of power has changed.
“We should not pretend that these feelings do not exist. The people have the right to voice their views and seek an explanation. The government still has a responsibility to explain to the people,” she said.
Yesterday, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia granted a conditional pardon to Najib, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine.
The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department said the order was decided at the 64th Meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya held at Istana Negara this morning. — Bernama
