KUALA LUMPUR: The country was today gripped by rumours of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak being granted a royal pardon.
Speculation started with a Malay daily running a sources story that the Pardons Board, which met on Monday, had discussed the matter and decided on granting the pardon.
However, the same daily later retracted the report and apologised to its readers.
This did not end the rumour mill from going into overdrive, with talk later emerging that instead of a full pardon, the 70-year-old who was sentenced to a 12-year prison sentence and RM210 million fine, had his jail term remitted to six years.
Earlier in the morning, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa had said the Pardons Board would be issuing a statement on Najib's application for a royal pardon.
Though Zaliha did not release details, it was enough to further spark rumours.
Media attempts to verify the rumours with the Pardons Board and other relevant authorities were, however, met with stony silence.
Later, when a Home Ministry advisory on a special press conference to be held by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail tomorrow was released, it triggered another wave of speculation that the government would address the matter.
This, however, was swiftly shot down by the ministry, which clarified that the press conference would revolve around foreign worker intake issues.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail term after he was found guilty of one count of abuse of power with regard to Retirement Fund Inc's (KWAP) RM4 billion loan to SRC International Sdn Bhd, as well as three counts each of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power involving RM42 million of SRC funds. He was also fined RM210 million.
SRC is a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
In August 2022, the Federal Court upheld the conviction.
In Malaysia, each state has its own Pardons Board chaired by the respective sultan or Yang di-Pertua (or governor).
The Pardons Board for each state is made up of five members, namely the attorney-general, the chief minister or menteri besar, and three other members appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or the state ruler.
For the Federal Territories, the prime minister is one of the board members, as the territory falls under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister's Department.