SHAH ALAM, Sept 18 - The decision to allow former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the rest of his SRC International sentence under house arrest could present serious implications to Malaysia’s anti-corruption credibility, said Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Raymon Ram.
Raymon said it could reinforce perceptions that those with political influence or status may face different consequences from ordinary offenders, potentially weakening the deterrent effect of the country’s anti-corruption framework.
“TI-M respects the constitutional power of clemency under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution. However, allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest carries serious implications for Malaysia’s anti-corruption credibility.
“His conviction involving RM42 million was unanimously upheld by the Federal Court and represents an established finding of criminal liability,” he said in a statement today.
TI-M’s statement came after His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted a conditional pardon upon Najib today, which allows the ex-leader to serve the rest of his prison sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, if he pays a RM50 million fine.
The decision was made at the Federal Territories Pardons Board meeting this morning.
Raymon said the decision could also create expectations for similar treatment in future cases involving grand corruption and financial crime.
“The concern goes beyond one individual. Exceptional treatment of a person convicted in a major corruption case risks reinforcing the perception that those with political influence or status may face different consequences from ordinary offenders.
“It may also set expectations for similar treatment in future cases involving grand corruption and financial crime, potentially weakening the deterrent effect of Malaysia’s anti-corruption framework,” he said.
Raymon highlighted that the decision could affect international perceptions of Malaysia’s public sector integrity and institutional effectiveness, adding that its anti-corruption efforts and reforms should not be undermined by claims of preferential treatment, and that accountability and equality before the law must apply equally to powerful individuals.
“There are also implications for Malaysia’s international standing. While no single decision determines Malaysia’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) score, the CPI draws on assessments by experts and businesspeople of public-sector corruption and the effectiveness of institutions in addressing it.
“High-profile decisions involving accountability for corruption inevitably contribute to the wider environment in which those perceptions are formed.
“Malaysia should be strengthening confidence in the integrity of its institutions, not creating further uncertainty over whether accountability is applied consistently,” Raymon said.
