The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) refers to the claims made by former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak regarding the existence of additional terms or addendum in the royal pardon by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which will allow him to serve the remaining six-year prison sentence under house arrest.

BERSIH asserts that based on current practices, house arrest sentences are only granted to prisoners involved in minor offenses, namely those serving prison sentences of four years or below through the Licensed Prisoner Release Programme (PBSL).

Furthermore, he still faces several serious criminal charges pending in court.

However, if prisoners involved in serious crimes like Dato’ Sri Najib are granted the privilege of house arrest, it would be fairer for this privilege to be extended to other prisoners who are in greater need, particularly female prisoners who still have young children.

Therefore, BERSIH emphasizes that the principle of equal justice under law must always be upheld as the primary principle to preserve the sovereignty of the country’s legal system.

BERSIH also questions why this matter is only being raised now, whereas in the pardon decision dated February 2, 2024 – also disclosed by his lawyer Tan Sri Mohamed Shafee Abdullah – there was no mention of a house arrest order?

At the same time, if there indeed exists an additional section or addendum dated January 29, 2024, as claimed by him, why was this not disclosed by his lawyer earlier?

These latest allegations seem to set a new precedent; for official Pardon Board decisions, that have been finalized, be allowed to be altered at any time.

Released by:
The Steering Committee of BERSIH