World · Malaysia Bureau
Anwar, government cannot escape responsibility for Najib pardon, says LFL
The Malaysian legal watchdog has asserted that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his administration bear full responsibility for the royal pardon granted to former Prime Minister Najib Razak, saying there is no constitutional avenue for them to evade accountability.
LSN Malaysia ·
Legal Forum for Liberty (LFL) has issued a strongly worded statement arguing that the government cannot legally or constitutionally distance itself from the decision to grant a pardon to Najib Razak, who is serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption-related convictions.
The civil society organisation contends that while the Yang di-Pertuan Agong holds the formal power to grant pardons under the constitution, the Prime Minister and his cabinet remain substantively responsible for the policy position and execution of such executive actions. LFL emphasised that constitutional law does not permit the administration to claim immunity from the consequences of executive decisions simply by attributing them to the palace.
This intervention comes amid ongoing public and political debate surrounding Najib's pardon conditions, which allowed him to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest. The watchdog's position suggests that Malaysian civil society groups are scrutinising the government's role in what many view as a significant test of the judicial and constitutional framework established following the 2022 transition in government.
LFL's statement represents one of several voices from activist quarters questioning the transparency and justification for the pardon, as Malaysia continues grappling with questions of accountability and institutional integrity in its post-election political landscape.