let me try that again

No, a pardon is not the same as an acquittal in Malaysia. The fundamental difference is that an acquittal is a court decision that a person is not guilty of the crime, while a pardon is an act of executive mercy that forgives the punishment for a crime that has already resulted in a conviction.
Key distinctions between a pardon and an acquittal in Malaysia:
Acquittal:
A court-ordered finding that the prosecution has not proven the charge against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.
It means the person is legally considered not guilty of the offence.
It is granted during or at the end of a trial process.
Pardon:
An act of royal prerogative by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or a State Ruler, acting on the advice of the Pardons Board.
It is typically granted after a person has been convicted and exhausted all legal appeals.
A pardon does not erase the conviction itself from the court records; the court order of guilt remains intact.
Its effect is to remove the legal punishment and any associated disqualifications (such as a ban from holding public office).
There are two types of pardons in Malaysia:
Conditional Pardon: The sentence is substituted with a lesser punishment (e.g., a death sentence commuted to life imprisonment, or a jail term reduced).
Free (or Full) Pardon: This form removes all punishments and consequences of the offence, effectively clearing a person from the "infamy" of the crime. However, the legal consensus is that even a free pardon does not function as an acquittal or expungement of the original court conviction.
In essence, an acquittal means you did not commit the crime in the eyes of the law, while a pardon means you committed the crime but are officially forgiven the consequences by the executive authority.

They also cannot afford to lose positions and income from ministerial posts.

I dared them to quit now. No need 48 hours. 48 minutes enough to draft letters of resignation and SDs.