Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has reaffirmed that the royal power of pardon under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution must never be misconstrued as a political concession or an act driven by personal sympathy. Instead, His Majesty underscored that the authority serves as a legitimate constitutional safeguard within Malaysia’s justice system.
In a statement issued in Kuantan on February 2, 2026, Al-Sultan Abdullah explained that the power of pardon functions as the final balancing mechanism in the administration of criminal justice. He emphasised that its exercise must be approached with composure and careful judgment, rather than being influenced by excessive emotion, political narratives, or public pressure.
According to His Majesty, any decision to grant a pardon or reduce a sentence does not erase a court’s conviction, invalidate the rule of law, or remove the record of an offence. The judicial process and its outcomes, he said, remain intact, and the authority to grant clemency should be understood within that constitutional context.
The Sultan further clarified that pardons and sentence reductions are not limited to prominent individuals, political figures, or specific groups. Each year, hundreds of inmates from diverse backgrounds and involving both serious and minor offences receive consideration for clemency by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers. This, he noted, demonstrates that the process is grounded in principle rather than personality or political alignment.
Al-Sultan Abdullah made these remarks in conjunction with his consent to attend the 120th Pahang Royal Council Meeting held at the Grand Darul Makmur Hotel on the same date. The meeting was also attended by the Crown Prince of Pahang, Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah, reflecting the continued role of the royal institution in matters of governance and constitutional responsibility.
His Majesty also highlighted that decisions on pardons are never made unilaterally. Instead, they are reached through deliberations of the Pardon Board, which includes representatives from key national or state institutions. This structure, he explained, ensures a multi-layered system of checks and balances that upholds transparency, accountability, and fairness.
Within the framework of a constitutional monarchy, the Sultan said the monarch does not act as an instrument of public sentiment or yield to political pressure. Rather, the role of the King is to serve as an impartial symbol of justice, providing balance and calm when emotions run high and when competing voices attempt to dominate public discourse.
Al-Sultan Abdullah concluded by stressing that the power of pardon should not be viewed as a weakness of the justice system. Instead, it stands as a reminder that Malaysia is governed by constitutional principles, not by public anger or political noise. He expressed confidence that the nation will continue to uphold these values and prayed for continued peace, stability, and divine guidance for Malaysia and the state of Pahang.
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