Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak’s fresh pardon bid deferred by Pardons Board

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak will remain in prison after his fresh application for a pardon was deferred by Malaysia’s Federal Territories Pardons Board.

The decision was announced after the board met on the morning of 11 September 2026. The legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Office said Najib’s application would be considered at a future meeting.

“His Majesty (Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar) consented for the application for a pardon by (Najib) to be deferred to a future meeting of the Pardons Board,” the statement said.

The decision means there was no immediate change to Najib’s current imprisonment following Friday’s meeting.

Pardons Board defers application

The board is chaired by Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. Its other members include the Attorney-General, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh and three other members.

At the same meeting, the King consented to the release of 65 prisoners.

The legal affairs division said prisoners who are not Malaysian citizens would be repatriated to their countries of origin within six months of their release.

Local media had reported earlier in the week that Najib’s application for clemency was expected to be considered at Friday’s meeting.

Some reports had also said that the possibility of Najib serving the remainder of his sentence under house arrest could be considered.

Najib has been held at Kajang Prison since August 2022. He is 73 and is currently serving a six-year prison sentence following his conviction for corruption and money laundering.

The conviction concerned RM42 million (US$10.3 million) transferred from SRC International, a former subsidiary of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), into Najib’s personal bank accounts.

Previous royal pardon reduced sentence

Najib was initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million after his conviction in the SRC International case.

A partial royal pardon subsequently cut his prison sentence by half, reducing it to six years. His fine was also reduced to RM50 million.

The reductions followed a meeting of the Pardons Board in January 2024.

Najib is currently scheduled to complete his six-year sentence on 23 August 2028.

He has maintained, however, that Malaysia’s previous King, Pahang ruler Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, issued an additional order allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

The alleged additional order, known as an addendum, became the subject of separate court proceedings.

The High Court ruled last year that the alleged order was not enforceable because it had not been considered during the January 2024 Pardons Board meeting.

That meeting took place one day before Sultan Abdullah completed his term as Malaysia’s King.

Najib appealed against the High Court ruling but withdrew the appeal in April 2026. Court documents seen by news outlets did not state why the appeal was withdrawn.

Separate 1MDB conviction

Najib also faces another lengthy prison sentence from a separate case connected to 1MDB.

The High Court in December 2025 sentenced him to 15 years in prison and imposed an RM11.38 billion fine after convicting him on 25 charges involving abuse of power and money laundering.

The charges concerned RM2.2 billion allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.

The separate 15-year sentence was due to begin after Najib completes his current six-year sentence in 2028.

Najib has appealed against the verdict and sentence, according to Reuters, as reported on 30 December last year.

The separate case means Najib remains subject to another prison term beyond the sentence he is currently serving.

Political divisions over clemency

The clemency application has also highlighted political differences within Malaysia’s unity government.

Najib served as prime minister for nine years before losing power in 2018. He continues to have significant support within Barisan Nasional (BN), a coalition that is part of the current unity government.

The government also includes Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition and several parties based in Borneo.

Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said last year that Najib could return to politics if he were pardoned and released from prison.

Najib’s political party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), is the main party in BN. UMNO is holding its general assembly from 9 to 12 September.

UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has repeatedly said he was hoping for the best for Najib’s clemency application.

“I am confident that His Majesty’s discretion and wisdom will determine the final decision, which is His Majesty’s absolute prerogative to announce,” Ahmad Zahid said on 10 September, according to Malay Mail.

PH and UMNO differ

The clemency issue appeared to create tension between UMNO and PH, which are partners in the unity government.

On 10 September, PH stressed that people convicted of corruption or abuse of power should serve the full sentences imposed by the courts.

The coalition also said decisions involving high-profile cases should take into account public confidence in Malaysia’s commitment to reform and its anti-corruption agenda.

UMNO responded that the PH statement appeared to question Sultan Ibrahim’s constitutional power to grant pardons.

UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the power was “enshrined in Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution”.

“Unlike PH, UMNO does not intend to pre-empt the consideration of the Pardons Board or demand any particular decision. Whatever decision is made through the legitimate process should be respected by all parties,” he said.