It is my considered opinion that the federal territories’ Pardons Board is not legally obliged to announce to the public its decision on Najib’s appeal for a pardon. There is no law to compel it – this is a fact.
Nobody has clarified this legal position and therefore much speculation has floated around.
This is not the first time the federal territories’ Pardons Board has met. In the past, after it had met, it did not come out with a statement to announce its decision. So why should it be different this time?
The same thing goes for the various state pardons boards when they meet and consider the appeals of prisoners. We don’t read of their decisions in the media. Decisions are never announced.
What happens when appeals for pardon are submitted to the pardons board? The applicants are notified if their appeals have been granted or denied.
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In Najib’s case, he would have been informed of the outcome. One would think his lawyers would also be in the know by now.
Let me ask Najib this simple question and I hope he will respond honestly: have you received a pardon?
He is the right person who can either confirm or deny the question of his pardon. If he was pardoned, he would have been notified. If so, he would either be packing his stuff to go home or he would have already gone home!
Because Najib is a high-profile personage, so much interest is swirling around this case. If people are anxiously waiting to know the result, it is understandable. If an ordinary felon had applied for pardon, people would not be bothered if he was granted a pardon. But Najib is no ordinary felon – he is a notorious criminal who was convicted, leaving no room for doubt!
One would think that if Najib’s appeal for pardon was rejected, by now it would have been world news. It would take a simple announcement for it to become hot international news!
On the other hand, I suspect, if he had received the expected pardon, it might be a little awkward to announce it to the public. Is that the reason why there is such an inexplicable delay?
Time will tell!
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