Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim Defends Decision To Cut The Sentence Of Former Prime Minister Najib Razak

Najib Razak. (Wikimedia Commons/Firdaus Latif)

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged all parties to exercise restraint on Monday, defending the Kingdom's move to reduce the prison sentence for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, amid increasing reactions from critics who considered it could jeopardize efforts to eradicate corruption.

The pardon council chaired by Malaysia's previous King, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, before taking to the throne last week, halved a 12-year prison sentence and cut fines for Najib, who was jailed for corruption and money laundering related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) state fund scandal. The council did not provide a reason for the decision it made.

PM Anwar said on Monday the king's decision to lighten Najib's sentence was final and the king was not obliged to give an explanation, adding it was a "mercess problem".

"We understand that the public has a strong view. So, we gave them a little leeway, but after an explanation it should be stopped," said PM Anwar.

PM Anwar also admitted that he submitted a request for royal clemency to the council for discussion, although he denied doing so under UMNO pressure.

"I said as soon as I received the appeal, I asked the council to discuss it," he said.

Separately, Najib himself has consistently denied wrongdoing. The family said they were disappointed by the decision, expecting full forgiveness and immediate release.

About $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB in a worldwide scheme, with about $1 billion flowing into Najib's personal accounts, Malaysian and US investigators said. Najib himself is still on trial for corruption in several other 1MDB related cases.

Meanwhile, Latheefa Koya, former chairman of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), described the reduced sentence for Najib as a "difficult blow" to the agency and its officers investigating 1MDB.

"And this reduction in punishment occurred when MACC was still trying to get 1MDB money back abroad. The other countries are watching closely - will they cooperate now?" he said in.

Meanwhile, Ramkarpal Singh, a former deputy legal minister of the Democratic Action Party, part of the PM Anwar coalition, asked the council for forgiveness to reveal his reasons for easing Najib's sentence.

"The government's efforts to eradicate corruption have been seriously damaged by the development of the Najib case, because the seriousness of its violations is known around the world," he said in a statement on Saturday.

The reduced sentence comes amid accusations by the prime minister of a setback in the reform pledge, after prosecutors last year canceled corruption cases against Najib and other leaders linked to the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), PM Anwar's coalition partner in forming the government in November 2022.

It is known that Malaysia's King played a ceremonial role, but could clemency convicts based on discretionary powers granted by the federal constitution.

The decisions made by aristocrats are rarely challenged. Negative statements about the monarchy can be prosecuted under the law, which is used against people criticizing the kingdom on social media.