PM: Decision to defer Najib’s pardon petition based on law, not personal prejudice

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that the decision to defer former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's royal pardon petition was made in accordance with the Federal Constitution, the rule of law, and legal advice from the Attorney-General, while highlighting the discretionary role of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Anwar clarified that while he considered political representations, his contributions to the Pardons Board were strictly guided by legal principles and good governance.

The deferral of Najib's pardon petition, consented by Sultan Ibrahim, was formally announced following the recent Pardons Board meeting.

Najib was sentenced in December to 15 years in prison and fined RM11.4 billion for his involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 — The decision to defer former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s petition for a royal pardon was guided strictly by the Federal Constitution, the rule of law, and official legal advice, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.

Anwar stressed that his participation in the Pardons Board proceedings was bounded by statute and formal guidance provided by the Attorney-General, The Edge reported.

“A prime minister, whoever he is, must have a voice and give his views based on the law, on advice from the Attorney General and on the rules. That is what I did.

“However, we also know that this is within the discretion and authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia), in the Pardons Board meeting, and the King must of course take all factors into consideration,” he told a joint press conference with Malaysian media in Calicut, Kerala, prior to concluding his official visit to India on Monday.

Anwar said the question of Najib’s pardon must not be viewed through a personal lens, but evaluated against established legal benchmarks and good governance.

“For me, in carrying out this duty, we must submit to the principle of the rule of law and what has been agreed upon in the constitution.

“So, I only gave my views along those lines. I have never, for example, taken a prejudiced or hateful stance. No,” he said.

The prime minister acknowledged that political representations, including strong appeals made by Umno leaders, were considered, but maintained that he chose to fulfil his constitutional duties based on principled governance.

“I know what the easy way is and what the difficult way is, but I chose the path I believe is right, following the principles of law and what we consider important in terms of the spirit of governance and the rule of law in the country,” he said.

Last Friday, Sultan Ibrahim consented to defer Najib’s pardon petition to a subsequent meeting of the board.

The decision was disclosed in an official statement by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department following the 63rd Pardons Board Meeting for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya at Istana Negara on Sept 11.

On Dec 26 last year, the High Court sentenced Najib to 15 years in prison and imposed an RM11.4 billion fine after convicting him of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion misappropriated from 1MDB funds.

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首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣强调，推迟对前首相拿督斯里纳吉·拉扎克的皇家赦免申请的决定，是根据联邦宪法、法治以及总检察长的法律建议做出的，同时他也强调了最高元首的自由裁量权。

安华澄清说，虽然他考虑了政治因素，但他对赦免委员会的贡献严格遵循法律原则和良好治理原则。

在最近的赦免委员会会议之后，苏丹易卜拉欣同意推迟纳吉布的赦免申请，并正式宣布了这一决定。

纳吉布因参与 1MDB 丑闻于去年 12 月被判处 15 年监禁，并被罚款 114 亿令吉。

吉隆坡，9月15日讯——首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣表示，推迟处理前首相拿督斯里纳吉·拉扎克的皇家赦免申请的决定，是严格依据联邦宪法、法治原则和官方法律建议做出的。

据《The Edge》报道，安瓦尔强调，他参与赦免委员会程序的行为受到法律和总检察长提供的正式指导的约束。

“无论谁担任总理，都必须有发言权，并根据法律、总检察长的建议和规则表达自己的观点。我就是这么做的。”

“然而，我们也知道，这属于最高元首（马来西亚苏丹易卜拉欣陛下）在赦免委员会会议上的酌情权和权限范围，国王当然必须考虑所有因素，”他在周一结束对印度的正式访问前，在喀拉拉邦卡利卡特与马来西亚媒体举行的联合新闻发布会上表示。

安华表示，纳吉布的赦免问题不应从个人角度看待，而应根据既定的法律标准和良好治理原则进行评估。

“对我而言，在履行这项职责时，我们必须服从法治原则和宪法中已达成一致的原则。

“所以，我只是表达了类似的观点。例如，我从未采取过任何带有偏见或仇恨的立场。绝对没有。”他说道。

首相承认，他考虑了包括巫统领导人强烈呼吁在内的各种政治诉求，但他坚持认为，他选择以原则性治理为基础，履行宪法赋予的职责。

“我知道哪条路容易，哪条路难，但我选择了我认为正确的道路，遵循法律原则，以及我们认为对国家治理精神和法治至关重要的东西，”他说。

上周五，苏丹易卜拉欣同意将纳吉布的赦免申请推迟到董事会的下次会议上讨论。

9月11日，在国家皇宫举行的吉隆坡、纳闽和布城联邦直辖区第63次赦免委员会会议之后，首相署法律事务司在一份官方声明中公布了这一决定。

去年 12 月 26 日，高等法院判处纳吉布 15 年监禁，并处以 114 亿令吉罚款，此前法院认定他犯有四项滥用职权罪和 21 项洗钱罪，涉及从 1MDB 基金中挪用的 23 亿令吉。

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