Overview
- The Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by Sultan Ibrahim, deferred consideration of Najib Razak’s fresh pardon application at its meeting on Sept 11, 2026 while granting pardons to 65 other inmates.
- Najib remains in Kajang Prison serving a partially reduced sentence after a 2024 royal pardon halved his original 12-year term and cut his fine.
- A separate 15-year sentence and a multibillion-ringgit fine from a December 2025 1MDB conviction is set to run after his current term, and Najib has filed appeals against that verdict.
- The High Court previously ruled an alleged royal 'addendum' for house arrest was unenforceable because it was not considered by the Pardons Board, and Najib withdrew an appeal over that addendum in April 2026.
- The deferred decision is politically sensitive because Najib still wields influence within UMNO and any clemency outcome could affect public confidence in anti-corruption efforts and strain the multi-party unity government.