Hannah Yeoh: My views on Najib’s pardon given honestly

Hannah Yeoh, who is a member of the Pardons Board, said she had expressed her views honestly and candidly, guided by her conscience and in the national interest. — Bernama pic

First Published: Wednesday, 16 Sep 2026 1:57 PM MYT

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 16 —Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said she had expressed her views on former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon application during the Pardons Board meeting on Sept 11, after reviewing the written opinion of the Attorney General.

Hannah, who is a member of the Pardons Board, said she had expressed her views honestly and candidly, guided by her conscience and in the national interest.

“I expressed my views honestly and candidly, guided by my conscience and in the country’s interest,” she said in a statement here today.

The statement was issued in response to remarks by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said regarding the deferment of Najib’s pardon application.

Hannah said she had expressed her views in her capacity as the minister responsible for the Federal Territories.

At the same time, she said that under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the authority and final decision on the matter rest with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“Certainly, in accordance with Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the authority and final decision lie with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, including the decision to defer any ruling regarding Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s pardon,” she said.

Yesterday, Azalina was reported as saying that any questions or clarifications regarding the deferment of Najib’s pardon application should be directed to Hannah.

She said although the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) came under her ministry, it merely served as the secretariat for the Pardons Board and she was not the minister responsible for the board.

On Sept 11, the Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division, in a statement,  announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, consented to defer the decision on Najib’s pardon application to a future meeting of the Pardons Board. — Bernama