KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 17): The Federal Territories Pardons Board is reconvening on Friday to discuss former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's clemency application over his conviction in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal, after the matter was deferred at the previous board meeting last week, according to The Straits Times.

The meeting is highly unusual because scheduling of the board's meeting is usually the prerogative of the executive branch, the newspaper reported, citing an unnamed official source.

"This is a very rare move. Out of the blue, the Pardons Board will have another meeting with just one item on the agenda. I think there is some sort of intervention," an official source who spoke on condition of anonymity was quoted as saying.

The Edge has reached out to Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh for confirmation but has yet to receive a reply.

Last Friday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar consented to the deferment of Najib’s petition.

On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the deferment was made based on the principles of rule of law, the constitution and relevant advice during the meeting.

“A prime minister, whoever he is, must have a voice and give his views based on the law, on advice from the attorney general and on the rules. That is what I did," Anwar was quoted as saying, adding he had never taken a prejudiced or hateful stance on the matter.

"However, we also know that this is within the discretion and authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the Pardons Board meeting, and the King must of course take all factors into consideration,” Anwar said.

Najib is currently serving the remainder of a six-year prison term after his original 12-year sentence and RM210 million fine over the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd case were halved by the Pardons Board in 2024.

Slated for release on Aug 23, 2028, Najib has sought for a full pardon or to spend the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

In December 2025, he was sentenced to an additional 15 years and a fine of RM11.4 billion after being convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving over RM2 billion in the 1MDB-Tanore case. He is currently appealing this conviction, while facing several other 1MDB-related cases.