Last week, the Pardons Board decided to halve corrupt former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s prison sentence. It was an anxiety-riddled week, filled with speculation, news reports that were subsequently retracted, silent politicians, curve balls, and a severe lack of transparency on the part of the government, as the public waited with bated breath for the decision from the Pardons Board. It’s a shame that Malaysians had to find out what was going on from the foreign press. 

The public response to the decision by the Pardons Board has been loud and angry. Former Damansara MP Tony Pua is under investigation under the Sedition Act for his remarks concerning the Pardons Board decision. The NGO Bersih has held a press conference demanding that the government deliver reforms or face the wrath of the people on the streets. 

In this episode, we discuss the political fallout of the Najib drama with Dr Francis Hutchinson, Coordinator of the Malaysian Studies Programme, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, and Sevan Doraisamy, Executive Director, SUARAM. 

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