PUTRAJAYA (Feb 5): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wants all criticism and condemnation of the reduction in jail sentence and fine meted out to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to stop, and for all quarters to respect the decision of the Pardons Board.

He said the main consideration was not legal matters, but the compassion of the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“The main consideration is about mercy, and compassion, or what the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong referred to as the 'fountain of mercy’.

"Whether His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong chooses to explain or not is within His Majesty's prerogative," he said at the monthly assembly with staff of the Prime Minister's Department here on Monday.

Anwar made these remarks in connection with the Pardons Board's decision in granting a 50% cut in the prison sentence and fine for Najib.

Citing Article 113 of the Prisons Regulations 2000, Anwar said the Pardons Board must provide its views and consider the rights of any detainee or prisoner.

"Some claim that every detainee must be in prison for a minimum of three years. This is not true. Anyone undergoing the process for the first time can appeal, and it will be heard.

"So, I do acknowledge that responsibility, but if it is said that the prime minister submitted the application and appeal from Datuk Seri Najib too early, I affirm that as soon as I receive any appeal, I request the Pardons Board to discuss it.

"The process is based on the procedure at a meeting I attended last Dec 9, which involved considering the grounds for appeal, including their (prisoners’) life journey, family, life in prison, services and contributions, whether to the family or the community and in the case of Datuk Najib, to the country. All of these factors are taken into consideration."

Anwar said every member of the Pardons Board will give their view and ultimately, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong makes the decision.

"So the issue of blaming the prime minister, the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong, the attorney general, or the Federal Constitution does not arise. The power has been given since independence, that the decisions are at the discretion of the Malay rulers," said Anwar and hoped that this explanation would quell the unrest.

"We cannot demand an explanation from the Pardons Board which is chaired and decided by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. If there is anyone who wants an explanation, please submit a memorandum to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said.

Najib, 70, has been serving a prison sentence at Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, after being convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International. He filed a petition for a royal pardon on September 2, 2022.

On July 8, 2020, the High Court sentenced him to 12 years in prison and a fine of RM210 million after finding him guilty of three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of position.

Najib's appeal against the conviction and sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2021 and the Federal Court on August 23, 2022, making a royal pardon his only hope at freedom.