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Joseph Sipalan

Ushar Daniele

Malaysia’s Pardons Board on Friday agreed to allow disgraced former prime minister Najib Razak to serve out the remainder of his jail term under house arrest.
King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted Najib a “conditional pardon”, where the former leader is required to settle his 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine before he can be transferred to his home to complete his sentence, due to end on August 23, 2028.
“He must abide by these conditions, and should he fail to fulfil any of these conditions, his conditional pardon will be nullified and must immediately serve the remainder of his sentence in jail,” the Pardons Board said in a statement.
The decision came a week after the board deferred discussions on Najib’s pardon application, stoking intense speculation and public anger over the possibility that he could walk free from his conviction in a case involving 42 million ringgit siphoned from a former unit of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
Royal pardons are the prerogative of the king, who is constitutionally empowered to grant clemency to convicted felons serving their sentences on the advice of the Pardons Board, which typically includes the federal territories minister, attorney general and several other appointed members.
In an immediate response, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed the party’s gratitude for the king’s decision to allow his predecessor to serve out his term in the comfort of his own home.
Zahid, who is also a deputy prime minister, announced that Umno would launch a fundraiser to cover the cost of Najib’s fine.
“Umno calls on its leadership, members and party supporters and all who wish to lend their support to make voluntary contributions to this initiative that will be carried out transparently, in order and in line with all regulations and laws,” he said in a statement.


Earlier on Thursday, rumours that Najib had been granted house arrest went viral, with images of a document purportedly signed by the king and Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh making their rounds on social media.
Yeoh said the images of the said document were fake and that her press secretary had since lodged a formal report with the authorities on the matter.
“I have never signed a house arrest order as has been going viral on social media. The Pardons Board has yet to meet,” she said in a social media post ahead of Friday’s meeting.
This is the second pardon for Najib, who holds the dubious distinction of being Malaysia’s first former prime minister to be jailed for corruption in 2022.
In 2024, then king Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah halved his 12-year prison sentence and reduced his fine from 210 million ringgit to 50 million ringgit.
Najib later attempted to secure a court order to compel the government to enforce an alleged “addendum” to the decree allowing him to serve out the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. But he dropped his bid in April after more than a year of pushing his case. No reason was given for his decision.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Pardons Board’s ruling does not change his government’s stance on corruption, stressing that he had fulfilled his role in advising the king.
“As prime minister, my role is to provide advice on the legal implications, national stability, the principles of law and to follow the advice and guidance provided at length by the attorney general,” Anwar was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.
“But in the end, the constitution provides absolute power to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and I hope we accept [the decision],” he added, using the official title of the king.
It was not immediately clear whether Najib’s transfer would happen today or how it would be handled.
Friday’s decision also drew immediate public backlash, with hundreds of angry social media posts decrying what was described as the collapse of the nation’s institutions.
“We cannot even pretend to be shocked any more and that’s the most depressing part. Each time we express outrage, adjust, and move on. This is how faith in institutions dies,” read a post by Khoo Ying Hooi, an expert in international relations and human rights at the University of Malaya.

Najib’s transfer to house arrest also raised complaints of alleged preferential treatment for the country’s elites, with many blaming it on a failure of Anwar and his ruling Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to push through its promised reforms.
“The last straw for Pakatan Harapan believers. PKR, DAP, Amanah. You guys are over,” said a post, referring to the three component parties of PH, the People’s Justice Party, Democratic Action Party and National Trust Party.
Syaza Shukri, a political scientist at the International Islamic University Malaysia, told Reuters the pardon was bad news for Anwar and a boon for Najib’s Umno ahead of the next election.
“The impact on Anwar and his government is really bad unless they can explain to the people the constitutionality and limitations they face,” she said. “This is a big win for Umno and they would feel more confident and emboldened going forward to get things going their way, looking like they will be the next government in waiting.”


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Malaysia’s Najib Razak allowed to serve rest of jail term under house arrest

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Given a ‘conditional pardon’, Najib has to settle his US$12.3 million fine before he can be transferred home to complete his sentence


Given a ‘conditional pardon’, Najib has to settle his US$12.3 million fine before he can be transferred home to complete his sentence.


Malaysia’s Najib Razak allowed to serve rest of jail term under house arrest

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Given a ‘conditional pardon’, Najib has to settle his US$12.3 million fine before he can be transferred home to complete his sentence

Given a ‘conditional pardon’, Najib has to settle his US$12.3 million fine before he can be transferred home to complete his sentence