FT Pardons Board convenes at Istana Negara amid talk of Najib’s petition

A general view shows the gates of Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur on September 11, 2026. — Bernama pic

By Malay Mail

First Published: Friday, 18 Sep 2026 8:55 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh and  and Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar have both reached Istana Negara here for a suddenly-scheduled Pardons Board meeting this morning.

Yeoh’s convoy was seen entering the palace gates at 7.48am, followed closely by a vehicle carrying Mohd Dusuki, NST reported.

Both sit as statutory members on the board, which is chaired by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.

The meeting is shrouded by speculation that the board is being reconvened to determined pardon application of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, which had been deferred during the previous meeting on Sept 11.

At the time, Najib had been expected to receive some form of pardon.

Last night, Yeoh had dismissed a viral document circulating on social media regarding Najib’s purported house arrest, clarifying that her signature did not appear on the paper.

Najib, 72, was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International and sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with a RM210 million fine. He began serving his sentence at Kajang Prison on Aug 23, 2022.

In 2024, the FT Pardons Board halved his prison term to six years and reduced the fine to RM50 million.

However, Najib and his lawyers subsequently insisted that the partial pardon came with a royal addendum for him to serve out his remaining time at home, eventually suing to have this granted.

On Dec 22 last year, the High Court dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence under house arrest. Najib withdrew his appeal against the decision in April this year.