Hannah Yeoh has denied having any authority over the decision to defer former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s application for a pardon, stressing that the matter falls under the prerogative of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) said she had no authority to comment further on the proceedings or speak on behalf of the Pardons Board, and directed questions to the statement issued by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) of the Prime Minister’s Department.
“Anything I can explain is already in the media statement issued yesterday. I do not have the authority to discuss or issue statements on behalf of the Pardons Board,” she told reporters after officiating the Kuala Lumpur Night Market Fiesta 2026 today.
Yeoh confirmed that she attended the Pardons Board meeting at Istana Negara yesterday alongside the Attorney General, but declined to disclose details of the meeting or indicate when the board would reconvene.
“I attended with the Attorney General. That is all I can say. When the meeting is called, that is all I can say,” she said, reiterating that the power to grant pardons rests with the King.
Her remarks followed the King’s decision yesterday to defer Najib’s pardon application to a future Pardons Board meeting. The development had been reported amid speculation over the former premier’s bid for clemency.
Buletin TV3 had earlier reported that the Federal Territories Pardons Board was expected to meet to consider, among other matters, Najib’s application concerning his conviction in the SRC International case.
Najib was convicted in July 2020 of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million. The Federal Court upheld the conviction and sentence in August 2022.
In February 2024, the Pardons Board Secretariat announced a 50% reduction in his prison term to six years, while his fine was reduced to RM50 million.
