JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 8 — A day after Istana Negara said Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon order was clear and unambiguous, Johor Umno Youth has turned its sights on the Attorney General (AG).
The Johor wing chief Noor Azleen Ambros said the AG must answer for how the Pardons Board’s September 18 decision was carried out, The Star reported today.
“Johor Umno Youth fully supports the firm stance taken by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim on the matter,” Noor Azleen was quoted as saying.
“The Istana Negara statement issued on Saturday demonstrated that the King had carried out his duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Federal Constitution.”
He voiced disappointment with the way the matter was handled, saying it was careless and gave the impression of an attempt to sidestep the board’s ruling.
As evidence, he pointed to Istana Negara and the Prime Minister’s Office having to issue separate statements on November 7 to set out the actual position.
Noor Azleen then turned to the AG saying the lapse was one of negligence.
“Johor Umno Youth urges the Attorney General to take responsibility for the lack of care and negligence in implementing this decision by honourably stepping down immediately,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that a police report had been lodged against the AG but The Star report gave no details.
Malay Mail was unable to independently verify the police report.
Stepping aside, he said, would let investigations proceed transparently and with integrity.
Najib was granted a conditional royal pardon on September 18 to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine, after the Pardons Board cut his original 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine to six years and RM50 million in 2024.
Umno said it had settled the fine, but Najib remained in Kajang Prison on November 6 after the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) asked for his transfer to be deferred pending clarification of legal questions, including how the pardon affects his separate 1MDB sentence.
Istana Negara said yesterday that the pardon order was clear and that all its conditions had been fulfilled, while the AGC denied defying the King and said it was seeking clarity on legal uncertainties.