Najib Razak's House Arrest Decision Unambiguous, Palace Asserts

Malaysia's national palace has asserted that a royal decision allowing former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve his prison sentence under house arrest is unambiguous and must be respected.

The palace statement came in response to the attorney general's move on Friday to block Najib's transfer from prison to house arrest, citing the need for further legal clarification. The reversal of plans was made after Najib left the prison following a payment of 50 million ringgit by his political party towards a court-imposed fine.

Najib had been imprisoned since August 2022, when Malaysia's top court upheld his conviction in the first graft trial linked to the looting of state investment fund 1MDB. The former prime minister was granted clemency by the king in September, allowing him to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest once he meets certain conditions.

The palace emphasized that all terms attached to Najib's conditional pardon have been fulfilled, including the payment of the fine. It stated that the royal prerogative of pardon must be respected and that there should be no confusion over its interpretation.

The dispute between the attorney general and the palace highlights the complexities surrounding the implementation of the pardon, with both parties seemingly at odds over the conditions attached to it.

The Malaysian palace has reaffirmed its stance on the conditional pardon order for imprisoned ex-leader Najib, emphasizing that it is clear and unambiguous in its conditions.

According to the palace statement, all conditions attached to the pardon have been fulfilled, and any arguments challenging the order would amount to disobeying the command of the king.

The attorney general's office has yet to respond to the palace's assertion, with no immediate comment issued on the matter.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the house arrest imposed on Najib only applies to his reduced six-year sentence in the first trial and does not cover a separate 15-year prison sentence he received in December 2025 for corruption and money laundering related to the 1MDB scandal.

The Malaysian palace has reaffirmed its stance on the house arrest order for former leader Najib Razak, emphasizing that it must be respected despite public discontent.

Najib's reduced sentence of six years and fine of 50 million ringgit were imposed in January 2024 by the Pardons Board. King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar later granted him a conditional pardon, allowing for house arrest until August 23, 2028, provided Najib pays the fine.

The 1MDB scandal, which led to Najib's conviction and historic election defeat of the ruling coalition in 2018, has left a lasting impact on Malaysian politics. The United Malays National Organisation, now part of the new government that took power in 2022, still retains some influence, with Najib remaining a key figure despite his imprisonment.