The minutes of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) meeting concerning former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will not be made public, confirmed Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories). Dr. Zaliha, who is also a member of the FTPB, stated that the issue was a "confidential matter" and falls under the Board’s discretion, which is chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
This decision follows calls for transparency regarding the Pardons Board’s deliberations on Najib’s sentence. On January 9, 2025, Dr. Zaliha’s comments came after a request from Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Akin, Senior Political Secretary to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Shamsul urged the government to release the minutes from the FTPB meeting held on January 29, 2024, where the Board reduced Najib’s sentence by half.
Najib’s royal pardon, granted after he submitted a petition in September 2022, led to a reduction of his sentence from 12 years to six, and a reduction of the imposed fine from RM210 million to RM50 million. This followed his conviction in 2020 on charges linked to the SRC International scandal.
Earlier this week, the Putrajaya Court of Appeal allowed Najib’s application for a judicial review concerning the existence of the addendum order. The court decided in 2-1 majority decision to remit the case concerning Najib’s claims about the document to the High Court. This review could provide further clarity on the circumstances surrounding the house arrest decision and Najib's fate to spend the rest of his sentence under the house arrest.
While the FTPB’s refusal to disclose its meeting minutes maintains confidentiality, the ongoing legal proceedings may soon bring more clarity to the decisions made in Najib’s case. The results of these proceedings could help address public concerns ensure greater transparency moving forward.
Information Source: The Vibes
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