GETTING a royal pardon for incarcerated former prime minister Najib Razak would be considered a failure for the current Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led unity government, political pundits said.

Although no PH component parties had backed the former Pekan MP’s pardon bid, supporters, however, would view the coalition as a “toothless tiger” in the government, and that it is being dominated and controlled by Umno.

Anwar Ibrahim, who became Malaysia’s 10th prime minister with Umno’s backing, said he will be part of the Pardons Board to decide Najib’s fate.

But with PH members silent over the matter, political experts were of the view that Perikatan Nasional (PN) could use the matter as campaign fodder in the state polls.

Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said PH component parties would need to explain to their supporters as well as grassroots should there be any changes to their stance on Najib.

“The issue of getting Najib pardoned is a test for the unity government led by Anwar. This will also show the extent to which parties that form this government would accept their stance on the issue,” Hisommudin told The Malaysian Insight.

“The PH component parties need to especially to state their stand now because before the formation of this government, their priority was to prosecute and punish Najib,” he said.

Last week, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed the party had asked the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to consider granting Najib a pardon.

He had said the Umno Supreme Council will also seek an audience with the king to present a memorandum on the matter.

Anwar, meanwhile, has said he is part of the Pardons Board that will review Najib’s application for a royal pardon. He denied any conflict of interest with him sitting on the board, adding the final decision on granting a pardon lies with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Can Perikatan benefit?

Hisommudin said any decision to free Najib will benefit PN as they will use it as a “tool” in state elections campaign.

“If PN is wise to play this issue up, it could possibly work in PN’s favour in the state elections,” he said, adding that the opposition coalition did not appear to be utilising the issue aggressively at the moment.

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar also concurred with the view, saying PN could take advantage of the outcome.

“Any decision to free Najib will affect the unity government negatively.

“In the unlikely event the unity government endorses efforts to free Najib, PN will be the main benefactor.

“Even at this point, with Umno petitioning for Najib’s release, it can be an advantage to PN, vindicating their decision not to work with a certain faction in Umno,” the political science assistant professor said.

PN was previously firm in not getting involved in the legal process against Umno leaders.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, in his tenure as prime minister, had pledged not to interfere in court cases involving Umno leaders.

The Bersatu president also claimed to have been approached by Najib and his intermediaries with requests that an individual, said to be a “very senior lawyer”, be removed from prosecuting in the ongoing corruption cases.  

Pardon unlikely

Meanwhile, academic Mazlan Ali disagreed that PN can use the pardon as election campaign ammunition.

“This is because Najib’s application is in line with the provision of the Federal Constitution, which states that every criminal sentenced to prison has the right to apply for a pardon from the king,” the senior lecturer with Perdana Centre, Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said.

Nevertheless, Mazlan was of the view Najib will not be released, citing several obstacles in his case.

“He still has pending court cases.

“Therefore, considering all this, I think it will be difficult for the Pardons Board to agree (to release him),” he said.

Najib is currently serving his 12-year prison sentence after the Federal Court dismissed his review application.

Two weeks ago, the Federal Court, in a 4-1 majority decision rejected Najib’s application to review its decision to uphold the guilty verdict, sentence and fine against him. – April 11, 2023.