Deputy Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has openly expressed his hope that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will one day receive a royal pardon, saying it is difficult for him to witness a close ally continuing to serve a prison sentence after several years of incarceration.
Speaking at a party event in Butterworth, Zahid conveyed his personal sentiments as a long-time friend of Najib, noting that he continues to pray for a favourable outcome for the former leader. At the same time, he stressed that any decision regarding a pardon lies solely within the constitutional authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and must be respected without question or pressure.
Zahid underlined that while supporters may hope and pray for leniency, the royal prerogative should never be influenced by public appeals or political considerations. He said the monarch alone would determine the appropriate timing and course of action, guided by wisdom and constitutional responsibility.
His remarks came at a significant moment, as Najib is set to learn whether he will be permitted to serve the remainder of his reduced prison sentence under home detention. The High Court is scheduled to deliver its decision on Najib’s judicial review application, which seeks confirmation that a house arrest arrangement can be implemented in accordance with an alleged additional order linked to a previous royal pardon.
Najib has been incarcerated for more than three years following his conviction in the SRC International case. Although his original sentence was reduced after receiving a partial royal pardon, he remains behind bars while pursuing further legal avenues related to the conditions under which the remainder of his sentence may be served.
Zahid’s comments reflect the continued sensitivity surrounding Najib’s case, which remains closely watched by the public and political observers alike. While expressing sympathy for Najib’s personal circumstances, Zahid maintained a careful tone by repeatedly emphasising respect for institutional processes and constitutional boundaries.
The impending court ruling is expected to clarify whether Najib can transition from Kajang Prison to home detention, a move that would mark a significant development in his legal journey. Regardless of the outcome, Zahid reiterated that decisions involving sentencing, detention arrangements, or pardons must proceed strictly within the framework of the law and the Constitution.
Kamran (kfiverr21@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.
