PASIR PUTEH: Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has accused Umno of engaging in political pressure over its decision to apply for a full royal pardon for Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said it was up to the Pardons Board to take into consideration and grant the application by Umno for the party's former president.
He said there are certain procedures that need to be adhered to involving the process of granting a full pardon.
"To my knowledge, anyone can apply (to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to consider granting a full pardon). However, what Umno is doing is engaging in political pressure.
"It is up to the Pardons Board to decide whether to consider the application or otherwise," he told reporters after attending the Kelantan PN leadership meeting here last night.
Also in attendance was Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob.
Umno recently announced that the party would be appealing to the compassion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah to consider granting full royal pardon to Najib as per Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution.
The party's secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the matter had been deliberated, decided and agreed upon when the Umno Supreme Council convened its monthly meeting on Friday (April 7).
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had said such a request would not affect the party's cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the unity government .
Khaled, who is the Higher Education Minister, said the party decided to make the request to merely show its appreciation and gratitude towards Najib for his nine-year leadership.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday confirmed that he would be involved in the process of evaluating the application by Umno to grant a full royal pardon to Najib.
Muhyiddin refused to comment when asked on Anwar's involvement in the process.
"I cannot comment on that since the matter is based on the (Federal) Constitution and the country's laws," said the Pagoh member of parliament.