PUTRAJAYA: The power to grant a pardon to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is at the sole discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said Umno information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
"The matter is at the discretion of the King as per Article 42 (of the Federal Constitution).
"There are no more legal procedures, but (the bid for the pardon) at the court of compassion.
"Now is the court of compassion, meaning at the discretion of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and we cannot force it.
"It is up to the King to study the matter and we are no longer involved," she told reporters after the launch of a website aimed at providing the public with accurate information related to the dispute involving the Sulu "heirs".
Present were Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
On April 7, Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party was appealing to the compassion of the king to consider granting a full royal pardon to Najib.
He said the party would submit the appeal soon as per Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution.
However, on April 10, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department (parliament and law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said Umno had no legal standing to submit the appeal on the former party president's behalf.
This, he said, was based on Regulation 113 of the Prisons Regulations 2000, which comes under the Prisons Act 1995.
Wan Junaidi said based on the regulation, the petition can be filed only by the prisoner or his immediate family members, meaning his wife or children.
Wan Junaidi said the party or even Najib's lawyer could not petition on his behalf.
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