KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia’s ruling coalition has said individuals convicted in high-profile corruption cases should serve their full court-imposed sentences, as reports emerge that jailed former prime minister Najib Razak has submitted another request for a royal pardon.
Pakatan Harapan, the coalition led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, issued the statement on Wednesday, Sept 9, stressing the importance of the rule of law and the independence of the judicial process.
The statement did not mention Najib by name, but came amid reports that a pardons board chaired by King Sultan Ibrahim is scheduled to meet on Friday, Sept 11, with Najib’s clemency request expected to be among the matters considered. It was not immediately clear whether a decision would be made at that meeting.
Coalition calls for full sentences
Pakatan Harapan said those convicted of corruption or abuse of power, particularly in high-profile cases, should serve the full sentences imposed by the courts.
The coalition also said ongoing judicial processes should be allowed to proceed independently and without creating the perception that other considerations had taken priority.
It added that major corruption cases had affected Malaysia’s international reputation and that the country had worked to rebuild confidence in its institutions and governance.
Najib remains in prison
Najib has been jailed since 2022 following convictions in corruption cases linked to the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB, scandal.
He has consistently maintained his innocence.
In 2024, a pardons board chaired by Malaysia’s previous king reduced Najib’s original 12-year prison sentence by half and also reduced his fines.
Najib later argued that the decision also allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, but his legal effort to secure that arrangement was unsuccessful.
In December 2025, he received an additional 15-year prison sentence in the largest trial he faced over the 1MDB scandal.
Reports of another pardon request
Local media reported that Najib had made a new bid for royal clemency.
Reuters said a palace official, Najib’s lawyer and one of his aides did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Under Malaysia’s constitutional system, the king has the power to grant pardons following the established clemency process.
The reported request has again placed Najib’s case at the centre of political debate in Malaysia.
Political risks for Anwar
A possible new pardon for Najib could create political difficulties for Prime Minister Anwar.
Some critics and reformist allies have accused his administration of being too lenient towards high-level corruption cases involving figures connected to Najib’s United Malays National Organisation, or UMNO.
Pakatan Harapan and UMNO became partners in government after Malaysia’s 2022 general election resulted in a hung parliament.
However, disagreements over Najib’s treatment have remained a source of tension within the governing alliance, with some UMNO members continuing to call for his release.
UMNO criticises coalition’s position
UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki expressed disappointment with Pakatan Harapan’s statement.
He said the coalition’s position appeared to question the king’s constitutional authority to grant pardons.
Asyraf also pointed to Anwar’s own royal pardon in 2018 and questioned whether different standards were being applied to other cases.
The disagreement highlights the political sensitivity surrounding Najib’s future and the continuing differences between the parties supporting Malaysia’s government.
The bottom line
Malaysia’s ruling coalition has reaffirmed that people convicted in major corruption cases should serve their full court-imposed sentences amid reports that former prime minister Najib Razak is seeking another royal pardon.
Najib has been imprisoned since 2022 over corruption cases linked to the 1MDB scandal and received an additional 15-year sentence in December 2025.
With a pardons board reportedly set to meet on Sept 11, the issue has renewed political tensions between Pakatan Harapan and its governing partner UMNO.
Any decision involving Najib’s clemency request could have consequences beyond his personal case, potentially testing the unity of Malaysia’s ruling coalition and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s anti-corruption credentials.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D
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