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Key Highlights
Najib's sentence reduced
Najib's pardon hearing fast tracked
Najib and critics disappointed
Najib's sentence reduced
If you have been avoiding the news these past few days, Najib Abdul Razak has not been pardoned.
Instead, the Pardons Board has reduced his jail sentence in the SRC International case from 12 years to six years.
His fine was also reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Najib's prison sentence is now supposed to end in Aug 2028, however, he might be eligible for early release on good behaviour after serving two-thirds of his sentence in Aug 2026.
However, his prison stay could be extended if he is convicted in any of his other ongoing criminal cases.
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Najib's pardon hearing fast-tracked
The government has thus far maintained that any decision by the Pardons Board was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's sole discretion.
However, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam revealed Najib's pardon bid was heard early thanks to efforts by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Lokman said by right, the appeal would only be heard after Najib had served one-third of his prison sentence.
One-third of Najib's original 12-year sentence would have been 4 years behind bars.
Najib has only served just over one year in prison.
Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan said Zahid had tried his best to secure a royal pardon for Najib, but that not all his actions could be made public.
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Najib and critics disappointed
While Malaysians and politicians were divided by the Pardons Board decision, they were united in their disappointment.
Najib and his family were disappointed that a full pardon was not granted, with the former premier said to be in deep melancholy.
Many others, meanwhile, were disappointed that his sentence was reduced
The only positive reaction appeared from PKR lawmaker Hassan Karim who said that the Pardons Board decision showed it respected the courts’ conviction of Najib.
Meanwhile, former DAP leader Tony Pua's lampooning of the decision led to police initiating a sedition probe against him.
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