KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has asked the government to reveal if a house arrest was included as part of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's royal pardon application.
In his debate on the royal address in Dewan Rakyat today, Ismail Sabri said he had learnt that Najib, currently detained in Kajang Prison, had appealed to be transferred to house arrest.
"I was made to understand this was included as an attachment in the pardon petition.
"My question is, is this true or not? And if it is true, was it discussed when the pardon application was presented and what was the outcome?"
The Bera member of Parliament asked this during his debate on the royal address in Dewan Rakyat today.
On Feb 2, the Federal Territories Pardons Board had reduced Najib's fine, as well as halved his 12-year jail term to six .
This meant that the former prime minister would be released from prison on Aug 23, 2028.
Several days later, Najib's lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah alleged that the Pardons Board did not operate in accordance with the Constitution's requirements.
He said this was one of their arguments for filing a fresh full Royal Pardon soon, alongside other grounds.
"It is unclear if the process of the Pardons Board and the decisions made to it are regular or otherwise. The law clearly states that the Royal Prerogative of mercy is the sole discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. It is unfettered and non-challengeable in any court.
"However, many public members are somewhat concerned due to the inconsistencies. My client is most baffled. As a result of these unsatisfactory features, we are looking at another application for a full Royal Pardon," he was reported as saying.