PUTRAJAYA – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has denied being the source for a Singaporean news portal, which published an article alleging a sentence reduction for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Reiterating the importance of waiting for an official statement from the Pardons Board, he lamented the coincidence that he had met the agency’s reporters before the story was published.
“I have said that we must wait for the official media statement. I ask both local and foreign media to wait for (it).
“Unfortunately, I met with the reporter (of the agency that published the story).
“I am not the source who gave the information, but I urge all media friends; let’s not jump the gun,” he told a press conference at the ministry today, after a post-cabinet meeting earlier.
At the same time, Fahmi reiterated to “follow the due process” of waiting for the statement.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in Kajang Prison over charges of abuse of power, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust relating to RM42 million belonging to former 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.
Earlier today, the foreign news portal published an article, citing “official sources”, that Najib’s prison sentence had been halved by the Pardons Board following its meeting on Monday.
The result of Najib’s pardon petition has been a matter of speculation for weeks.
It reached a boiling point after a Malay-language news portal published a now-amended article that Najib was successful in his petition for a pardon, prompting Fahmi to advise the media to wait for the official statement.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa echoed the comments but confirmed that the Pardons Board convened on Monday.
While she said the meeting took place at Istana Negara here, she did not disclose the topics discussed.
The convening of the Pardons Board and its deliberations are protected by the Official Secrets Act.
Earlier this month, Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Shafee Abdullah, said neither his client nor his office were updated on the pardon petition filed about 16 months ago. – January 31, 2024