Projek SAMA has urged that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not be granted a royal pardon until all three of his remaining criminal cases have been resolved.
PETALING JAYA: Projek SAMA has urged that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not be granted a royal pardon until all three of his remaining criminal cases have been resolved, saying a premature pardon would undermine the rule of law and public confidence in the justice system.
It said Najib should first ensure that his outstanding cases — the 1MDB-Tanore appeal, the ongoing IPIC trial and the SRC2 trial — are resolved either through the courts or via plea bargains under Section 172C of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) before seeking a pardon.
The statement came after Najib’s son and Umno Langkawi chief, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib, said a strong Barisan Nasional (BN) showing in the upcoming Johor state election would bolster calls for his father’s pardon.
Although several Umno leaders later said election results have no bearing on the constitutional pardon process, Projek SAMA argued that the issue goes beyond procedure.
“Malaysians must consider what a pardon represents and whether granting one before all criminal proceedings are concluded would erode public trust in the justice system,” it said.
The group added that Najib’s four convicted and ongoing corruption cases involve approximately RM8.99 billion in public funds.
“The amount is equivalent to building 93 new schools or 34 hospitals.
“A Malaysian earning the median monthly wage of RM2,864 would need more than 310,000 years to accumulate the same amount, while approximately 570,000 Malaysians who turned 18 last year would collectively need to contribute more than five months of their total earnings to match the figure,” it said.
Projek SAMA urged Najib and his family to stop seeking what it described as a “VIP out-of-jail card” through electoral victories or lobbying efforts.
It said that if Najib genuinely sought an early release, he should first resolve his remaining cases, admit responsibility, apologise to Malaysians and retire from politics.
The group added that the Pardons Board and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong should consider the scale of the alleged financial losses and their long-term impact, warning that Malaysians must not be left with the perception of dua darjat, where political elites are treated differently under the law.
“Pardons are meant to complement justice, not undermine it, whether by showing compassion, correcting miscarriages of justice or facilitating political reconciliation,” it said.
However, it argued that any pardon granted to Najib would amount to political reconciliation rather than compassion and must not erode public confidence in the rule of law.
Pointing to international precedents, Projek SAMA cited South Korea as an example of a country that has consistently prosecuted and imprisoned former presidents regardless of their political status.
“Since 1996, five former South Korean presidents have been jailed for offences including corruption, treason and insurrection.
“While several were later pardoned before completing their sentences, they had retired from politics, and some publicly apologised and paid all or part of their financial penalties,” it said.
It said South Korea’s experience demonstrated that political clemency could coexist with accountability, provided judicial processes were first allowed to run their full course.
Projek SAMA also questioned the practical implications of pardoning Najib while three criminal cases remain active.
It asked whether Najib would simply submit another pardon petition if he were convicted again in the pending cases, or whether an early pardon would create the perception that he had become effectively immune from imprisonment regardless of future court decisions.
“If Najib maintains his innocence, he should wait until all legal proceedings are concluded before seeking a royal pardon,” Projek SAMA said.
Alternatively, it said he could resolve the remaining cases through plea bargains under the CPC, thereby saving legal costs and public funds.
“The judicial process must be exhausted before the extraordinary power of pardon is exercised,” the group said, adding that justice must apply equally to all Malaysians, regardless of political standing.
