KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition on Wednesday said people convicted in high-profile graft cases should serve their sentences in full, amid media reports that jailed former premier Najib Razak has made another bid for a royal pardon.
A pardons board chaired by King Sultan Ibrahim was due to meet on Friday with Najib's clemency request expected to be among matters considered, though it was unclear when a decision would come, local news outlets Free Malaysia Today and Sin Chew Daily reported.
A palace official and Najib's lawyer and aide did not immediately respond to requests from Reuters for comment.
Najib has been in prison since 2022 after being convicted in two separate corruption cases linked to a multi-billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He maintains his innocence.
In 2024, a pardons board chaired by the previous king halved his initial 12-year jail sentence. Najib maintained that decision also allowed him to serve his time under house arrest, but his legal bid to secure that was unsuccessful.
Najib was in December 2025 sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison in the biggest trial he faced over the scandal.
In a statement early on Wednesday, which made no mention of Najib or the reported pardons board meeting, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition Pakatan Harapan said those convicted of corruption or abuse of power, especially in high-profile cases, "must serve the full sentence set by the court".
"The principle of the rule of law also demands that the ongoing judicial process be given the space to be completed in an orderly and independent manner without creating any perception that the process has been preceded by other considerations," it said.
It said it respected the king's earlier decree that all corruption cases be investigated thoroughly without compromise against those found guilty.
The king plays a largely ceremonial role in Malaysia but can give pardons.
RISKS FOR PM ANWAR
A fresh pardon for Najib could pose risks for Anwar, who has been accused by some critics and reformist allies of being weak on high-level corruption, particularly those involving figures from Najib's party, the United Malays National Organisation.
Pakatan joined hands with rival UMNO in 2022 to form a government following a general election that resulted in a hung parliament. The alliance has been shaken by internal disagreements, including on the treatment of Najib, with some UMNO members consistently calling for his release.
Another general election is not due until early 2028, but Anwar in May said he might consider calling a snap poll if internal divisions widen.
UMNO's secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki expressed disappointment with Pakatan's statement, saying it appeared to question the king's constitutional right to issue pardons.
"UMNO has no intention to preempt the considerations of the pardons board or seek any particular decision," Asyraf said in a statement, without referring to Najib or the reported meeting.
Asyraf noted that Anwar himself was pardoned in 2018 while serving jail time for sodomy and corruption. Anwar has long insisted the charges were politically motivated.
"Why should different standards be applied to others?" Asyraf said.
(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff and Ashley Tang; Editing by Martin Petty)
