Pardons Board reconvenes, with attention fixed on Istana Negara

KUALA LUMPUR: A vehicle believed to be carrying the minister in the Prime Minister's Department for federal territories, Hannah Yeoh, was seen entering the grounds of Istana Negara at 7.48am today, ahead of a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board.

A vehicle believed to be carrying the Attorney General, Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, was seen entering shortly afterwards.

Both sit on the board, which is chaired by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, the board for the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya also includes not more than three other members appointed by the King.

This morning's meeting has drawn attention because the pardon application of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was deferred at the board's 63rd meeting on September 11.

At that meeting the King consented to the application being held over to a future sitting, according to a statement from the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department. No reason was given for the deferment. At the same meeting, 65 other prisoners were pardoned.

The short gap between the two meetings has itself become a talking point. The Straits Times quoted an unnamed official source as saying the step was a rare one.

"All of a sudden, the Pardons Board is holding another meeting with only one item on the agenda," the source said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The same source offered the view that there had been some form of interference in the process. That claim could not be independently verified and no authority has confirmed it.

Hannah has said previously that the view she gave to the board was offered honestly and in the national interest, and was based on the Attorney General's written opinion.

On Thursday night she denied that her signature appeared on a document circulating online concerning Najib's house arrest.

At the time of writing there had been no official announcement on the outcome of this morning's meeting. The attendance of board members is not an indication of any decision.