The cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today did not discuss an upcoming Pardons Board hearing, including a possible deliberation on Najib Abdul Razak’s application for a royal pardon.

Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said this when asked about a Channel News Asia report that the board would hear the jailed former prime minister’s bid in the third week of January.

“We did not discuss this matter in the cabinet meeting today,” Fahmi said at a press conference in Putrajaya after the meeting.

The communications minister also noted there is due process to be followed and the matter ultimately lies in the hands of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Typically, we cannot get ahead of the process. So we leave it to the Pardons Board to deliberate.

“That is, the powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Pardons Board,” he added.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak

According to CNA, Najib’s pardon application was deferred at a meeting last month as the six-member board decided it needed more time to deliberate on the issue.

The upcoming Pardons Board meeting will be among Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s final tasks before Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar is crowned the king at the end of this month.

‘Positive vibes’

A senior member of Najib’s inner circle was quoted as saying there are “positive vibes” about the pardon petition, should the bid be heard at this month’s meeting.

Malaysiakini has reached out to Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for comment.

Last month, Shafee said his team would be writing to Putrajaya to seek an update on Najib’s bid for a royal pardon, filed almost 10 months ago.

Former Umno president Najib is serving a 12-year jail sentence at Kajang Prison for the RM42 million SRC International corruption case.

In addition, he is also on trial for other charges related to the 1MDB mega scandal.

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