King Defers Decision on Najib Razak’s Pardon Application to Future Pardons Board Meeting

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 11 – His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, has consented to defer the decision on former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s pardon application to a future meeting of the Pardons Board. The decision was announced in an official statement issued on Friday by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department following the conclusion of the 63rd Pardons Board Meeting for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya at Istana Negara.

During the meeting, His Majesty also consented to the release of 65 prisoners, specifying that all non-Malaysian prisoners granted release must be deported and repatriated to their countries of origin within six months. The Federal Territories Pardons Board is chaired by the King and includes the Attorney-General, the Minister responsible for the Federal Territories, and three other members appointed by His Majesty. Istana Negara had been the center of intense media focus since early Friday morning regarding developments surrounding the board’s session, which was believed to involve Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.

Najib was originally sentenced in 2020 to 12 years’ imprisonment and fined RM210 million after being found guilty of seven charges concerning the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds. At its 61st meeting on January 29, 2024, the Pardons Board reduced his prison sentence to six years and adjusted his fine to RM50 million. In a separate criminal case on December 26 last year, the High Court sentenced Najib to 15 years in prison and fined him RM11.4 billion after convicting him on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.3 billion in 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds, a ruling he appealed on December 29, 2025.

In addition to his criminal cases, Najib remains subject to significant civil judgments and ongoing lawsuits. On March 31, the High Court ordered him to repay USD1.3 billion to SRC International after finding that he had breached his fiduciary duties, abused his position, and misappropriated company funds for personal gain, though execution of the order has been stayed pending appeal. He also faces a civil suit filed by SRC International and Gandingan Mentari Sdn Bhd in 2021, as well as a US$5.64 billion suit brought by 1MDB and four of its subsidiaries, both of which remain before the courts.

–NMT