Najib and Rosmah stripped of Selangor titles Pardons: Sultan backs Agong
Published on: Tuesday, September 13, 2022
By: Malay Mail
Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah arrives for the First Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 14th Selangor State Assembly, in Shah Alam March 14, 2022. — Bernama pic
Kuala Lumpur: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj on Monday expressed his “solid” support of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s assertion that royal pardons cannot be meted out arbitrarily, amid petitions for convicted former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak to be granted one.The Selangor monarch reminded Malaysians that while the King has the discretionary power to pardon those that have been convicted, it must be done according to the law.
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“I would like to convey my solid support for the decree by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Sept 5, 2022 with regards to the prerogative power to pardon that cannot be meted out arbitrarily for the sake of vested interests.
“The public must understand that the pardon process must be done according to the law and procedures as provided under the Constitution and its relevant laws,” the state Ruler said in a statement.
In his speech while officiating the Pahang Shariah Court Complex in Kuantan, Pahang on Sept 5, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah was reported to have said that the power to punish and pardon must not be used arbitrarily because it will be held accountable in the “afterlife”.
“If the law is not implemented consistently and fairly, justice will certainly not be achieved as the philosophy behind the enactment of a law would have been tainted, and as a result, the disadvantaged party would end up being victimised by those in power,” national news agency Bernama had quoted the Agong as saying.
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The King was also quoted as saying that Islamic justice prohibits privilege or exception be given to anyone who commits wrongdoing, be it oneself, close friends, family members or parents.
Supporters of Najib have been increasingly vocal in pushing for the Umno politicians to be pardoned even as he faces a slew of other corruption, money laundering and criminal charges, with some yet to start trial.
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Inversely, a campaign was launched to petition the Agong against granting the pardon.
Najib is currently serving his 12-year jail sentence at the Kajang Prison after a five-judge panel at the Federal Court upheld his conviction of stealing RM42 million from the government-owned SRC International Sdn Bhd.
A royal pardon falls under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution, which gives the Agong or Sultan the powers to grant a pardon or reprieve to a convict.
Meanwhile, Sultan Sharafuddin has revoked the titles given by Selangor to Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor following their conviction of criminal cases.
In a statement by the Selangor State Secretary Datuk Haris Kasim, he said the Sultan’s decision was made after his Majesty chaired the State Special Royal Council Meeting in Istana Alam Shah, Monday.
“The revocation takes effect on Sept 12, 2022, in accordance with His Majesty’s prerogative powers under Article XXXVII and Article XXXIX of the Constitution of the Government of Selangor, 1959, as well as the related Status of Majesty and conventions practised in the State of Selangor,” he said in a statement.
Najib was bestowed with the Order of His Majesty the Crown Prince of Selangor or Seri Paduka Mahkota Selangor (SPMS) First Class, which carries the title of Dato’ (Datuk) Seri in 2004 and the Order of His Majesty the Crown Prince of Selangor (DPMS) Second Class which carries the title of Dato’ (Datuk) in 1992.
Najib was charged in the High Court on several charges involving abuse of power, breach of trust and money laundering on the funds of SRC International Sdn Bhd. On August 23, 2022, the Federal Court upheld the conviction and sentence against him that had been previously decided by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Rosmah was awarded the First Class Membership of SPMS, which carries the title of Datin Paduka Seri in 2005.
She was convicted on three charges involving the offences of soliciting and accepting bribes on Sept 1, by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
The Sultan also revoked the title of former Secretary-General (KSU) of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Mohd Arif Ab Rahman, who was convicted and sentenced on corruption charges on Jan 23, 2021 by the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
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