Malaysia prepares to declassify Najib's Pardons Board meeting minutes

Malaysia is preparing to declassify minutes of Pardons Board meetings concerning former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, although the proposal was not discussed directly at Friday's (13 November) Cabinet meeting, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.

Fahmi, the government spokesman, said the process was being arranged in accordance with legal requirements and that the Cabinet had sought advice from the Attorney-General before proceeding.

“The matter was not raised directly during today's Cabinet meeting, but I understand that the process is being arranged,” he told a post-Cabinet press conference on Friday.

“There are several legal considerations that must be taken into account, and the necessary arrangements are being made to ensure compliance with the relevant legal requirements.”

Fahmi said the Cabinet had sought the Attorney-General's advice, adding that the government intended to proceed with the declassification after the necessary processes had been completed.

“Nevertheless, the intention is there, and it will go through the necessary processes,” he said.

The proposed declassification concerns the minutes relating to the Federal Territories Pardons Board's decision on 18 September 2026 to grant Najib a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest.

Proposed release follows calls for transparency

The proposal followed a suggestion by Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in the Dewan Rakyat, Malaysia's lower house of Parliament.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said on Thursday that he would propose to the Cabinet that the minutes be declassified.

He said releasing the documents could provide the public with a clearer account of the Pardons Board's decision-making process.

The proposal concerns the minutes of the meeting at which Najib was granted a conditional pardon and the arrangement allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

The government has not yet announced a date for the documents' release.

Najib's sentence was reduced in 2024

Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million (about US$51.4 million) in the SRC International case.

On 29 January 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board decided to reduce his prison sentence to six years and his fine to RM50 million (about US$12.2 million). The decision was announced on 2 February 2024.

On 18 September 2026, Najib was granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of the SRC sentence under house arrest until 23 August 2028. The arrangement was subject to payment of the RM50 million fine and other conditions.

Umno announced on 6 November that it had completed payment of the fine to the Kuala Lumpur High Court.

The proposed declassification relates specifically to the Pardons Board minutes concerning the September 2026 conditional pardon and house-arrest arrangement.

Legal requirements to be considered

Fahmi did not specify which legal provisions or considerations needed to be addressed before the minutes could be made public.

He said the Attorney-General's advice had been sought to ensure that the process complied with the relevant legal requirements.

The Pardons Board is established under Malaysia's Federal Constitution. Its proceedings and the information surrounding its decisions have been subject to public scrutiny in Najib's case, particularly following the announcement of the sentence reduction and the subsequent conditional pardon.

The government has yet to clarify whether the full minutes will be released or whether any portions will be withheld.