Former Malaysian premier Najib Razak, who was convicted of graft over the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, could be released by 2028 after his jail sentence was halved by a pardons board on Friday (Feb 2), prompting an uproar from critics who called on the government to explain its decision.

The Pardons Board, chaired by Malaysia’s king, said it made the decision this week after reviewing an application for a royal pardon by Najib, who began serving a 12-year jail term in August 2022. It did not give a reason for the decision.

The reduction in Najib’s sentence comes amid accusations that current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is backsliding on promised reforms, after a string of corruption cases linked to Najib and leaders with ties to his party were dropped last year.

Anwar has long campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, but joined hands with Najib’s graft-tainted party, the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), to form a government in November 2022, after an election that ended in a hung parliament.

Immediately after the announcement, Anwar told broadcaster Al Jazeera that the pardons process was “beyond the prime minister and the government”, while acknowledging possible unhappiness in some quarters over the outcome. 

“We must respect the right of anyone convicted to appeal to the Pardons Board,” Anwar said, adding that he defers to the decision of the previous king.

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If Najib is not satisfied with the outcome, he can appeal to the new king, Anwar said.

Najib’s daughter, Nooryana Najwa Najib, said his family appreciated the reduced sentence, but were disappointed he was not granted a full pardon and released immediately.

“Najib Razak and his family remain steadfast in our position and confidence that he is innocent,” she said in an Instagram post.

Youth party Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, which withdrew its support for Anwar last year citing corruption concerns, called on the prime minister to explain the rationale for reducing Najib’s sentence and whether the government agreed with the decision.

“This will have a great impact on Malaysia’s image in the eyes of the world, including our reputation in terms of the economy and the legal system,” it said.

The decision is set to affect investors’ faith in the nation, said Bridget Welsh, an honorary research associate with the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute Malaysia. 

“They see a situation where you don’t have the process of cleaning up or reforming the system in terms of corruption,” Welsh said.

Even though the leniency could dent Anwar’s anti-corruption credentials, he has a “long-enough runway to deal with the political consequences of the pardon”, said BowerGroup Asia director Adib Zalkapli. 

In addition to commuting Najib’s sentence, the Pardons Board also reduced fines imposed on the ex-premier to RM50 million (S$14.2 million) from RM210 million. An additional year will be imposed on his reduced jail term if he failed to pay the fine.

Malaysia’s king plays a ceremonial role and acts largely on the advice of the prime minister and Cabinet. But the monarch can grant clemency to convicts under discretionary powers granted by the federal Constitution, with advice from a pardons board.

The board’s decision on Monday was among the last acts of former king Al-Sultan Abdullah of Pahang, who ended his five-year reign under Malaysia’s rotating system of monarchy this week. He was succeeded on Wednesday by Sultan Ibrahim from Johor.

Najib was convicted for graft linked to state fund 1MDB, from which US and Malaysian investigators estimate US$4.5 billion was stolen and more than US$1 billion channelled to accounts linked to the former premier.

Najib has consistently denied wrongdoing, saying he was misled by fugitive financier Jho Low and other 1MDB officials over the source of the funds, and that he believed they were donations from the Saudi royal family.

Najib was voted out of power in 2018 amid public anger over 1MDB, ending the rule of Umno, which had governed Malaysia for six decades since independence.

Umno returned to power just two years later, amid political turmoil. It was voted out again in the 2022 election, but partnered with Anwar’s coalition to form a majority.

Najib remains on trial in several other corruption cases linked to 1MDB. REUTERS, BLOOMBERG