PUTRAJAYA: The royal pardon petition for jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is Umno's stance and not the government's.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew, who is also DAP secretary-general, said the petition was never raised in the cabinet meeting for discussion, even by Umno ministers.
"It (royal pardon) is Umno's stance as a political party, not the cabinet's. This is a fair process that anyone can appeal for after being convicted.
"Whether granted or not, is up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah).
"We put our trust in the process and the king's wisdom to make the best decision," he said during a press conference at the Transport Ministry's office here today.
Umno recently announced that the party would be appealing to the King to consider granting a royal pardon to Najib as per Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the matter had been deliberated, decided, and agreed upon when the Umno Supreme Council convened its monthly meeting on April 7.