WHILE there is a celebratory mood among former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s loyalists that a royal pardon is coming and that the latter will celebrate Hari Raya in the joy of his home, Twitter users are blasting the horns, saying Najib has never expressed remorse over his crimes.

Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah said the dissenting judgement by Federal Court judge Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli is sufficient to back Najib’s application for a royal pardon.

Shafee said Abdul Rahman’s minority judgement has been included in the application for a royal pardon that is being prepared.

Reports say the UMNO supreme council will be seeking an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to present an application to consider a royal pardon for Najib.

But for internet users, Najib can’t get an early pardon. A Twitter user said Najib never expressed regret or remorse in the SRC International case.

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KUALA LUMPUR – Umno has been accused by Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin of applying political pressure in a desperate bid to secure a royal pardon for its disgraced former president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president, said while any decision on the matter will be at the discretion of the Pardons Board, certain processes and procedures must be adhered to.

“As far as I am concerned, anyone can apply (for a pardon), but they (Umno) are using political pressure,” he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia after chairing a state-level PN meeting in Kelantan yesterday.

Muhyiddin, however, declined to comment on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s admission yesterday that he would be on the Pardons Board hearing Najib’s application.

This, he said, is because the matter is done in accordance with the law.

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ALIRAN Kesedaran Negara, Malaysia’s first muilti-ethnic reform movement dedicated to justice, freedom and solidarity has hit out on what appears to be a concerted campaign of manipulation of the facts and disinformation about how the system of administration of justice works and the attempts to undermine the finality of the process at the Federal Court.

In the first place, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should not have gotten itself involved in investigating High Court judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Ghazali for alleged conflict of interest.

“UMNO appears to be in a hurry to push for an early pardon for convict Najib using as its basis the sole dissenting judgment against the guilty verdicts of 13 other judges at the High Court, the Court of Appeals and in two Federal Court panels,” the ALIRAN executive committee pointed out in a statement.

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THE recent comments made by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding the discretionary power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) to pardon individuals convicted of a crime is that it rests with the King and is subject to certain qualifications.

According to Article 42(4)(a) of the Federal Constitution, the YDPA’s powers with regard to pardons are functions for which federal law may make provision under Clause (3) of Article 40.

This means that the YDPA has the ultimate discretionary power when it comes to granting pardons which is not limited to the advice of the Pardons Board.

Furthermore, Article 40(2) of the Federal Constitution provides that the YDPA shall act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet except in cases where the Federal Constitution requires the King to act in his discretion.

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IN LIGHT of the present political climate, scepticism abound over Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s pledge to form a solid and functional coalition with Barisan Nasional (BN).

The fact that UMNO which is notorious for betraying its allies is seeking a royal pardon for its former leader Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has only heightened concerns of Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders about the unity government’s viability.

When Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, currently facing 47 criminal charges of corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power, was named Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), public confidence was devastated.

Many people doubt the government’s commitment to reform, suspecting it will do anything to keep power, including supporting Najib’s pardon appeal.

A handful of PH supporters are worried that their PM is losing grip on the coalition. They have no idea whether their leaders are acting in the country’s best interests or simply seeking to maintain control. Anwar’s leadership is at a crossroads due to his low approval ratings and lack of confidence.

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I HAVE often wondered about the consequence if Datuk Seri Najib Razak is pardoned now – and once again found guilty and then sentenced to prison.

Would that mean a fresh appeal for pardon every time he is convicted – a serial application for a pardon?

Would UMNO launch multiple appeals for pardon each time Najib is found guilty? He still has a number of ongoing cases. There is a real possibility he might be convicted multiple times. What then will UMNO do?

Shouldn’t UMNO wait until all Najib’s cases are disposed of before appealing for a pardon? That would make sense!

Without thinking it through, UMNO has – with great zeal and zest – launched a campaign to seek a pardon for the world’s greatest kleptocrat. The party has seemingly the massive support of all its 191 divisions, including its women’s, youth and Puteri (young women’s) wings reflecting, as it were, the will of its 3.5 million members.

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