Malaysian PM Anwar denies hiding document on Najib’s home detention
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Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government did not conceal any document relating to jailed former premier Najib Razak’s home detention.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government did not conceal any document relating to jailed former premier Najib Razak’s home detention, state media reported.
Najib, imprisoned for his role in the country’s biggest scandal, has been pursuing a legal bid to compel the government to confirm the existence of and execute an “addendum order”, which he said was issued by the former king alongside a pardon he received in 2024, entitling him to serve the remainder of his jail term at home.
The former prime minister had his 12-year sentence halved
Najib and the former king’s palace say the document exists, with Najib’s legal team saying it has been ignored by the authorities.
Datuk Seri Anwar said the document was sent to the attorney-general and not to him or any other member of the pardons board, state news agency Bernama reported on Jan 11.
“The attorney-general then forwarded the document to the palace when there was a change of king, as it is the king who chairs the pardons board. We did not hide anything,” Mr Anwar said.
On Jan 10, Malaysia’s Law Ministry said it had no record of any documents authorising house arrest for Najib, nor had it received any official notification or instructions from the royal palace on the matter. The home and communications ministers have also said they were not aware of the existence of such a document.
Najib was found guilty in 2020 of criminal breach of trust and abuse of power for illegally receiving funds misappropriated from a unit of state investor 1MDB. He is on trial for corruption in several other 1MDB-linked cases and denies wrongdoing.
The Court of Appeal on Jan 6 overturned the dismissal of Najib’s legal attempt to access the document, which he says should allow him to serve the rest of his term at home. The case will go back to court to be heard by another judge. REUTERS
