Muhyiddin: Umno using 'political pressure' to push for Najib's pardon

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has accused Umno of using “political pressure” in its efforts to secure a royal pardon for jailed leader Najib Abdul Razak.

The Pagoh MP said certain procedures must be followed in granting pardons and his Perikatan Nasional coalition understood that the matter is at the discretion of the Pardons Board.

“As far as I know, anyone can apply for a pardon, but they (Umno) are using political pressure,” he said, according to an Utusan report.

Muhyiddin then declined to comment on the possibility of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s involvement in Najib’s pardon application after Anwar said he was on the Pardons Board.

Anwar said yesterday there would be no conflict of interest with his involvement in the board as it was the sole prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant pardons.

This comes after the Umno supreme council unanimously decided to apply for a royal pardon for former prime minister Najib.

According to Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Umno will also present the Agong memoranda signed by all 191 division leaders.

“After examining the issue, the supreme council respectfully submits a request to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to consider granting a full pardon to Najib in accordance with the power vested under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution,” Asyraf said in a statement.

Umno’s move followed the dismissal of Najib’s application to review his conviction and sentencing in the RM42 million SRC International corruption case by the Federal Court in a majority 4-1 verdict on March 31.

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