Azalina redirects Najib pardon questions to Yang di-Pertuan Agong

KUALA LUMPUR — Parliamentary Speaker Azalina Othman said on Sunday that questions regarding former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's request for royal clemency should be directed to Yang di-Pertuan Agong rather than the Badan Kehakiman Persekutuan secretariat, which she characterised as an intermediary in the process.

Azalina's remarks clarified the role of BHEUU, the federal council's administrative body, in handling Najib's clemency application. She indicated that the secretariat's function was limited to processing and forwarding such requests through established channels, rather than making determinations on the matter.

The comments come as public and political scrutiny intensifies around Najib's application for clemency following his conviction in the 1MDB financial scandal. The application process has raised questions about procedural transparency and the constitutional mechanisms governing royal pardons in Malaysia.

Najib's case remains a focal point of national interest given his former position as prime minister and the high-profile nature of the 1MDB investigation, which uncovered significant financial irregularities. The timing and progress of his clemency bid continue to generate discussion across Malaysian political circles and civil society.

The matter now awaits consideration by the relevant constitutional authorities, with Azalina's latest statement underlining the established hierarchy through which such applications are processed.