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PUTRAJAYA - Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pardon application has been postponed to the next meeting of the Pardons Board.
The matter was decided at the 63rd Pardons Board meeting for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, held at Istana Negara on Friday.
The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department said in a statement that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim had consented to Najib's pardon application being postponed.
At the meeting, His Majesty also consented to the release of 65 prisoners, with all non-Malaysian prisoners granted release to be deported and repatriated to their countries of origin within six months of their release.
"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has also consented to Najib's pardon application being postponed to a meeting of the Pardons Board to be held later," it said.
Istana Negara has been the focus of media attention since early this morning for developments surrounding the Pardons Board meeting, which was believed to involve Najib's application to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Najib, 73, had earlier applied for a royal pardon after being convicted and sentenced to prison in the SRC International case.
On Jan 29, 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board announced its decision to reduce Najib's prison sentence from 12 years to six, while his fine was reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
The former Pekan MP's case drew attention after Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Thursday that he hoped for a positive outcome regarding Najib's fate.
Zahid said he had left the decision on Najib entirely to the wisdom of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong ahead of Friday's Pardons Board meeting.
The Federal Territories Pardons Board is chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and also comprises the Attorney-General, the minister responsible for the Federal Territories and three other members appointed by the Agong.
In 2020, Najib was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210 million after he was found guilty of all seven charges related to the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International funds.
At its 61st meeting on Jan 29, 2024, the Pardons Board reduced the former Pekan MP's prison sentence to six years and his fine to RM50 million.
On Dec 26 last year, the High Court sentenced Najib to 15 years in prison and fined him RM11.4 billion after finding him guilty of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds. He filed an appeal on Dec 29, 2025.
In a separate civil case, the High Court on Mar 31 ordered Najib to repay USD1.3 billion to SRC International after finding that he had breached his fiduciary duties, abused his position and misappropriated company funds for personal benefit. The payment has been stayed pending his appeal.
Najib is also facing two other lawsuits, one filed by SRC International and Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd in 2021 and a USD5.64 billion civil suit brought by 1MDB and four of its subsidiaries. Both remain before the courts.
