AMANAH says any application to obtain a royal pardon for former prime minister Najib Razak should be denied and dismissed.

Its communications director Khalid Samad, in a statement, said pardoning Najib “will send a very wrong message to the people, the country’s justice system and also to the whole world regarding Malaysia’s attitude and stance against corruption and misuse of power”, as the Pardon Board sits today to decide whether to grant pardon to Najib.

Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail term for embezzling RM42 million in SRC International funds, money laundering and abuse of power in relation to the crime.

Khalid said pardoning Najib will derail Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Malaysia Madani drive.

He also said pardoning corrupt people “who have brought shame to the country” will do no favours to Malaysia’s claim to taking a firm and uncompromising stand against corruption.

On the contrary, it will give the wrong signal that the war on corruption is just empty words as political interests take precedent, he added.

Khalid said eventually “everything will return to normal”.

Amanah is part of Pakatan Harapan pact which forms the ruling government with support from Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Khalid also pointed to what other countries have done in cases linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) financial scandal.

“They have put on trial parties who conspired with Najib in the1MDB scandal,” he added, citing trials that have taken place in the United States, Singapore, Kuwait and recently Switzerland.

Alluding to Umno, Khalid also asked if the bid to pardon Najib meant there is a group of people who are “immune to the law and above the law”.

“This pardon application was brought by Umno because of their ‘sense of responsibility towards their former president’.” 

The Amanah leader said although loyalty and remembering the services of a leader is generally a positive trait, instead of asking for Najib’s pardon it is better for Umno to join forces with Pakatan Harapan and show its commitment to the fight against corruption.

Umno’s action, he added, seemed to deviate from the focus of civil society, which is to fight corruption together.

Khalid, pointing out that Najib is facing a string of other 1MDB-related charges in court, asked if the former prime minister would be put behind bars again if found guilty of any of them.

“Or will he be considered as having a special position, one that is immune from the law?” he said.

“With all due respect and reverence, we from Amanah appeal to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Pardons Board to reject the pardon request, and for Najib to continue serving time in jail due to the obvious crimes he has committed.

“Only then will the people be certain that the unity government and the Malay rulers, including the king, want to save our country from the scourge of corruption and abuse of power that has plagued the country for a long time.” – April 28, 2023.