KUALA LUMPUR – 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 Attorney General’s written opinion.
Hannah, who is a member of the Pardons Board, said she had given her views honestly and candidly, guided by her conscience and what she believed was in the country’s interest.
“I expressed my views honestly and candidly, guided by my conscience and in the country’s interest,” she said in a statement today.
Her statement came in response to remarks by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said concerning the deferment of Najib’s pardon application.
Hannah said she had given her views in her capacity as the minister responsible for the Federal Territories.
She also stressed that under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the authority and final decision on the matter rested 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 clarification regarding the deferment should be directed to Hannah.
Although the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) falls under Azalina’s ministry, she said it only served as the secretariat for the Pardons Board and that she was not the minister responsible for the board.
On Sept 11, the Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division announced that His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia, had consented to defer the decision on Najib’s pardon application to a future meeting of the Pardons Board. – September 16, 2026