Politics · Malaysia Bureau
PM insists Najib pardon deferral grounded in law, not bias
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government's decision to defer consideration of former premier Najib Razak's petition for a royal pardon, asserting the move is based on legal grounds rather than personal prejudice.
LSN Malaysia ·
KUALA LUMPUR — The Prime Minister clarified on September 15 that the deferred assessment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's pardon petition follows proper legal procedures and established protocols, rejecting suggestions of political motivations behind the decision.
Anwar Ibrahim stated that the government's approach reflects adherence to constitutional frameworks governing clemency applications, emphasizing that timing and assessment criteria are determined by legal requirements rather than individual preferences.
The deferral of the former prime minister's clemency request comes as Malaysia's legal system continues processing multiple petitions and matters of national importance. Officials reiterated that all such applications receive consideration according to established judicial and administrative standards.
The Prime Minister's remarks seek to address public discourse surrounding the case, underscoring the government's commitment to impartiality in handling sensitive constitutional matters. Analysts note that clemency petitions typically undergo detailed legal review before any formal recommendation or decision is made to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.