KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim has postponed a decision on former prime minister Najib Razak’s latest request for clemency, delaying a ruling on one of the country’s most politically sensitive cases.
The decision came after a pardons board meeting on Friday, Sept. 11, where the king granted pardons to 65 other inmates but ordered Najib’s request to be considered at a future meeting instead.
Najib Remains Behind Bars
Najib has been in prison since 2022 after Malaysia’s highest court upheld his conviction in a corruption case linked to the massive 1MDB financial scandal.
The former leader, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, has maintained his innocence and denied wrongdoing.
His latest clemency request is his second attempt to secure a royal pardon while serving his sentence.
His Sentence Was Already Reduced Once
Najib previously received a major reduction in his punishment in 2024.
A pardons board chaired by Malaysia’s previous king cut his original 12-year prison sentence in half and also reduced the financial penalties imposed on him.
Najib later argued that the earlier decision also allowed him to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.
However, his legal attempt to enforce that claim was unsuccessful.
Another Major Sentence Is Still Being Appealed
The former prime minister also faces another lengthy prison term.
In late 2025, Najib was sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison and fined about US$2.8 billion after being convicted of abuse of power and money laundering in another case connected to the wider 1MDB scandal.
He is currently appealing that conviction and sentence.
Pardon Bid Adds Pressure to Malaysia’s Government
Najib’s latest clemency request has once again exposed political tensions within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multi-party government.
Najib remains influential within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), despite being imprisoned.
This week, Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan coalition said people convicted of major corruption or abuse of power should serve their full court-imposed sentences.
UMNO figures criticised that position, adding to existing tensions within the governing alliance.
The King Has the Power to Grant Pardons
While Malaysia’s king largely performs a ceremonial role, the country’s constitution gives the monarch discretionary powers to grant pardons.
That makes the postponed decision particularly significant, as Najib’s political future could be affected by the outcome of his clemency request.
For now, however, no final decision has been made.
The Bottom Line
Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim has delayed a decision on former prime minister Najib Razak’s latest bid for a royal pardon.
Najib remains in prison while appealing another major conviction linked to the 1MDB scandal.
The postponement means one of Malaysia’s most controversial political and legal questions remains unresolved.
The big question now is when the pardons board will take up Najib’s case again — and whether the former prime minister will receive another chance at clemency.
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