KUALA LUMPUR: Transparency International Malaysia (TI - M) has joined the chorus of groups demanding a full disclosure on the decision made by the Pardons Board over Datuk Seri Najib Razak's SRC International case.
Its president Dr Muhammad Mohan said although the Pardons Board is not obliged to provide any explanation, the issue involving the former prime minister is not only of public interest but has drawn global attention.
"The Pardons Board must explain and justify why they made those recommendations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"Without such transparency, Malaysia's reputation is at stake here. The decision here is not a pardon for Najib but reducing the jail term and the fine by half.
"The question is why the board members made such recommendations to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong knowing very well the former prime minister has ongoing cases. So TI-Malaysia demands full disclosure with transparency on this decision," he told the New Straits Times.
Muhammad also said such a development was a "big blow" for the image of the country when it comes to the rule of law , enforcement of the law and the justice system.
"This has opened the flood gates for many other criminal cases to go through a similar process and the Pardons Board must be fair.
"This definitely will have an impact in the future. What was said positively early this week on Malaysia's rebound on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is now on under serious threat.
"Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's dream of reaching the top 25 by 2033 in the CPI is also doubtful now," he said.
Other parties and individuals who have called for full transparency by the Pardons Board on Najib's case include the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and former Klang member of Parliament Charles Santiago.
The CIJ, in a brief post on X (formerly Twitter) insisted that the public has a right to demand transparency and disclosure of the basis of decision made by the Pardons Board.
"It is the RIGHT of the rakyat to demand transparency and full disclosure of the grounds for this pardon!" it said.
Santiago said he feared that such a development might open floodgates allowing those facing a similar corruption sentence to apply for a royal pardon in the event the Pardons Board did not explain why Najib received a reduction of his sentence.