Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib granted conditional house arrest

KUALA LUMPUR – Jailed former Malaysian premier Najib Razak has been granted conditional permission to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest, a development that could widen the rift between the ruling coalition Pakatan Harapan (PH) and the Barisan Nasional (BN) bloc in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Cabinet.

The Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor, has commuted Najib’s remaining jail term to house arrest on the condition that Najib pays a RM50 million (S$15.5 million) fine.

“If he fails to comply with any of the conditions, then this conditional pardon is void, and he must immediately continue serving the remainder of his sentence in prison,” said the Law Department of the Prime Minister’s Department in a statement on Sept 18, following the board’s meeting.

The move came just a week after the matter was deferred at the board’s last meeting on Sept 11.

Najib, 73, was the country’s prime minister for nine years. He was arrested in July 2018 and charged with breach of trust and abuse of power in a case linked to Malaysia’s state fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He was convicted and, in August 2022, started serving a 12-year jail sentence for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International, a former company under 1MDB.

The jail sentence was halved in 2024 by the then Malaysian king, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, who chaired the Pardons Board meeting. Najib’s original fine of RM210 million was also reduced to RM50 million.

Since then, Najib has been pursuing a legal bid to compel the government to confirm and execute an “addendum order”, which he claimed was also issued by Sultan Abdullah to the Pardons Board and entitled him to serve the remainder of his sentence at home.

Late in 2025, the High Court ruled that the addendum was unenforceable because it had not been considered by the Pardons Board. Consequently, it was deemed unconstitutional, as royal prerogative must be exercised only on the board’s advice.

Although Najib may have got his wish for house arrest in this latest twist in the saga, there is still the High Court ruling in December 2025 to abide by. Najib had been sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison after being found guilty in his second major 1MDB trial. He was also fined RM11.4 billion, in default of which he would serve another 10 years in prison.

That sentence will run after Najib completes his jail term from the earlier case, which is scheduled to end in August 2028.

The latest development could widen the rift between reform-minded PH and BN.

Granting house arrest damages PH’s credibility with voters who demand legal accountability and justice. Conversely, UMNO, the leading party in unity government ally BN, views the leniency towards its former president as vital to reviving its political fortunes.

Amir Fareed Rahim, director of strategy at risk consultancy KRA Group, said reform-minded voters of Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the largely urban base of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) may view the decision on Najib as another retreat from the ruling coalition’s anti-corruption pledges.

DAP, in particular, will face pressure to explain its continued partnership with UMNO.

“Although clemency is the King’s constitutional prerogative, the political fallout could deepen unease within the governing coalition and weaken enthusiasm among its supporters ahead of the next election,” he said.

He added that the latest development “will likely increase Anwar’s determination to fight corruption despite the credibility gap that his government suffers”.

After all, Anwar had “built his political career and capital on pledges to eradicate graft, so it is essential that he delivers on this”.

Asked to comment on Sept 18, Anwar said: “As the prime minister, my job is to provide advice on the implications of the law, the stability of the country, the principle of the rule of law, and also to follow the advice and guidance written in detail and at length by the Attorney-General.”

“But ultimately, the Constitution establishes the absolute power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and I hope we accept (the decision),” he told reporters, referring to the Sultan.

Meanwhile, UMNO expressed its gratitude to Sultan Ibrahim for granting its former president Najib a reprieve. In a statement on Facebook, UMNO’s current president Zahid Hamidi said the party had never lost faith in the King’s mercy.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister of Malaysia, announced that the party is launching a donation drive to help Najib pay off the RM50 million fine.

“UMNO calls on all party leadership, members and supporters, as well as those who wish to join in providing support, to contribute voluntarily through an initiative that will be implemented transparently, systematically and in compliance with all applicable regulations and laws,” he said.

In contrast, former economy minister Rafizi Ramli, a staunch critic of Najib, called on the government to explain why Najib was given clemency.

“At the very least, Dato’ Seri Anwar should disclose in detail the conditions governing the house arrest, so that action can be taken should there be any clear breach of those conditions,” Rafizi said in a statement.

He said this is to allow the Malaysian public to be “the eyes and ears of society” in ensuring that the house arrest is enforced strictly and in full.

After news of his conditional reprieve emerged, members of the media and supporters gathered outside Najib’s private residence in Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur.

Retiree Radhiah Rashid, 68, a Najib supporter who said she has made it a point to attend court whenever he faced trial, said his reprieve is a long-awaited moment.

She said: “It is not just for me but all Malaysians who care for Datuk Seri Najib.”