Former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak’s sentence for corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering has been halved by the country’s top pardons board, as reported by news agency CNA. Associated with the state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Razak’s fine has also been reduced from 210 million ringgit to 50 million ($10.6 million).
If the fine is paid, Razak is now slated to be released in August 2028 — a year earlier than his original release date. This decision was confirmed last Friday in an official statement by the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s secretariat. A royal pardon had been applied for by Razak in September, which has now been granted.
There has been a mix of reactions in the public sphere to this development. Notable responses include that of Razak’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa Najib who, despite appreciating the shortened sentence, believes her father should be given a full pardon and immediate release – a standpoint that was echoed by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi.
However, others see the pardon as an example of leaders in South Asia escaping the full weight of their punishment. James Chin, professor of Asian studies at the University of Tasmania, commented to the BBC about the problematic nature of this trend, stating that when you reach a certain level in your career, “nothing can happen to you.”
In addition to his current sentence, Najib still has three other ongoing criminal cases which include a total of 25 counts of abuse of power and money laundering charges. This story begs the question of what lies next for high-level legal cases in Malaysia. Will more leniencies be shown, or will the public outcry lead to stricter sentencing?
For more in-depth coverage of Malaysia’s former PM’s sentence reduction, visit Jurist.