KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 31 (CNA) - Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak’s jail sentence for corruption has been reduced from 12 to six years by the Pardons Board following its meeting on Monday (Jan 29), sources including senior government officials told CNA.

The decision by the board, which is headed by Malaysia’s king, includes a reduction of his RM210 million (US$44.4 million) fine to an unspecified amount, according to three separate sources who spoke on condition of strict confidentiality.

The partial royal pardon for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case comes after serving less than two years of his prison term.
The reduction means Najib is expected to complete his sentence in August 2028. But with parole for good behaviour, he could be out in August 2026 after serving two-thirds of the new jail term. 

There has been feverish speculation about the pardon after Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) confirmed on Tuesday that the board members including herself had met on Monday. She said an official announcement by the Pardons Board will be made.

The meeting was one of Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin’s last official tasks before he stepped down as Malaysia’s king on Jan 31 and handed the role to Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar under the country’s unique rotation system for its nine royal state households.

At a press conference on Wednesday evening, Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told reporters the Cabinet discussed Najib’s royal pardon request, but said it is up to the Pardons Board to announce its decision. 

At another press conference, Communications Minister and government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil would not comment on whether a pardon decision has been made. “Let’s not jump the gun. Let us wait for an official statement to be made and follow that due process,” he said.

Najib's lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said he has yet to be informed of any decision by the Pardons Board.

Photo from Reuters