DAP will be affected by Najib pardon decision, says KJ

The conditional pardon for former prime minister Najib Razak will affect the Pakatan Harapan government, and particularly DAP, says former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said DAP had previously declared that Najib’s release was a “red line” for the party.

“However, DAP has a get-out clause. They can say ‘we gave our views but at the end of the day the discretion lies with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’. They can say the decision had nothing to do with them.”

Khairy was speaking in the latest episode of the “Keluar Sekejap” podcast tonight.

Earlier today, Najib was granted a conditional pardon in the SRC International case, allowing him to serve the remainder of his six-year jail term, until Aug 23, 2028, under house arrest, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.

Najib, 73, has been serving a reduced sentence at Kajang prison after the pardons board in February 2024 halved his original 12-year sentence and reduced a RM210 million fine to RM50 million.

DAP’s central executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss and decide the party’s position and follow-up action following Najib’s conditional pardon.

The party’s secretary-general Loke Siew Fook said DAP has been consistent from the outset in demanding justice and accountability over the 1MDB scandal. SRC International is a former 1MDB subsidiary.

Loke also said federal territories minister Hannah Yeoh conveyed a position consistent with the party’s principles while carrying out her responsibilities as a member of the Federal Territories Pardons Board.

Last week, Kuala Lumpur DAP treasurer Ben Fong called on party members in the Cabinet to resign in the event Najib is pardoned, saying it would be “untenable” for DAP to remain in government if the former Pekan MP is released.