As pro-Najib rally reignites tensions in Malaysia, PM Anwar urges respect for royal order

A looming rally to support Malaysia’s jailed former prime minister Najib Razak has reignited simmering political tensions, prompting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to urge citizens to heed a stern reminder from the palace that pardon power lies solely with the king.

Najib, 71, has taken the Malaysian government to court, accusing it of hiding a decree by Sultan Abdullah, Malaysia’s former king, granting him the right to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for corruption linked to the 1MDB scandal at home.

This is after the king had already slashed his twelve-year sentence in half and reduced his 210 million ringgit (US$47 million) fine to 50 million ringgit.

The claim was dismissed as hearsay by the Kuala Lumpur high court in November, but Najib is appealing against the matter at the Court of Appeal, with his son presenting a copy of the purported decree to the court as proof of its existence.

Umno, the party Najib led for nine years, alongside key opposition party Pas, has called for its members to rally outside the court on Monday while the matter is heard as a show of solidarity with the incarcerated former prime minister.

Anwar, speaking to reporters on Friday, called on all sides to respect the latest statement from the palace and trust the judicial process, saying: “You must read, understand and accept the command.”