Malaysian Civil Society Demands Transparency After Najib Razak Pardon

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar granted a conditional pardon to former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on September 18, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until August 23, 2028. The pardon requires Najib to pay a reduced fine of RM50 million.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi defended the decision as lawful and bound by the Federal Constitution. While the political party Umno welcomed the move and launched a fund to assist with the fine, the Pakatan Harapan presidential council asserted that convicted individuals should serve their sentences according to the law.

Following the announcement, a coalition of civil society organizations, including Bersih and Abim, demanded the immediate and full disclosure of all documents related to the pardon. The groups are calling for the release of the Pardons Board's meeting minutes and the attorney-general's written submission to justify the decision. They argue that the pardon lacks transparency and potentially bypasses Parliament, as no existing law specifically provides for home detention via pardon. The coalition expressed concern that the move undermines the rule of law, noting that Najib still faces an outstanding 15-year sentence in the 1MDB Tanore case and other pending legal matters.