Najib still Pekan MP until his pardon petition is rejected: speaker

Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun says former PM filed his bid well within 14-day period as required by law

(FMT) – Former prime minister Najib Razak has filed a petition seeking a royal pardon for his conviction in the SRC International case, says Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun.

In a statement, Azhar said Najib filed the petition on Sept 2. This is within 14 days of the Federal Court’s reaffirming of his conviction in the case.

This means that Najib remains the Pekan MP.

“The enforcement of his disqualification as an MP will only begin if his petition is denied.

“As such, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s status as the Pekan MP remains unchanged at this time,” said Azhar.

Azhar’s latest statement comes just after he told reporters that Najib would lose his MP status tomorrow.

Previously, Azhar said Najib would automatically be disqualified as the Pekan MP after 14 days if no other court procedures were initiated or a royal pardon was not applied for within that period.

Najib was imprisoned 13 days ago after the Federal Court upheld his conviction and sentence of 12 years’ jail and a RM210 milllion fine in the SRC International case.

He has been the Pekan MP for five terms since 1976.

Under Article 48 of the Federal Constitution, a person can be disqualified as an MP if they are convicted for an offence and sentenced to more than one year in jail and fined more than RM2,000.