Umno leader thanks PM, Zahid for Najib's 'early' pardon hearing

An Umno leader today thanked Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for Najib Abdul Razak’s “early hearing” with the Federal Territories Pardons Board.

Lokman Noor Adam, who is a member of the Umno supreme council, said a petition for a pardon would typically be heard after a convict has undergone one-third of their total sentence.

“We would like to thank the prime minister because by right, Najib’s pardon petition can only be heard by the Pardons Board after going through one-third of his sentence.

“But due to efforts by the president (Zahid) and raised by the prime minister, Najib’s petition was heard ‘early’ by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” said Lokman (above).

He was speaking to reporters after a supreme council meeting chaired by Zahid today at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, which ran for nearly three hours to discuss the latest development.

Najib began serving a 12-year jail term for conviction in the RM42 million SRC International case in August 2022.

Yesterday, the Pardons Board announced it reduced his jail term to six years, which means he would be released from prison on Aug 23, 2028.

In a meeting on Monday (Jan 29), the board also slashed the fine slapped on Najib from RM210 million to RM50 million.

This decision by the Pardons Board was one of the last acts of Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, whose term as Agong ended on Tuesday (Jan 30).

New king, new pardon petition

Meanwhile, Lokman said Umno will continue efforts to seek a royal pardon from the new King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, starting with a signature drive among all Umno leaders and division chiefs.

“We ask all Umno members to keep calm, this is not over. Our efforts will continue.

“We ask all Malaysians to respect the decision by the King and Pardons Board,” he said.

Lokman added that the Aug 23, 2028 date which has been stated as Najib’s new release date was “not entirely accurate”.

He said there are possibilities of an earlier release.

“At any time, Najib can also apply for parole. We are also putting in efforts to seek house arrest.

“These are all things where our party’s leadership is standing firm behind the president to continue such efforts.

“At the same time, we hope the prime minister will be together with us in our efforts to seek justice for Najib,” he said.

Loke urges for cool heads to prevail over Najib sentence reduction

COMMENT | Govt should take responsibility for Najib’s cut sentence

Bersih: Najib should serve full sentence

Zaliha: Muda 'immature' to call for my sacking on Najib's case