Malaysia's King affirms clarity of conditional pardon for former prime minister Najib Razak
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
The royal palace said Sultan Ibrahim's conditional pardon allowing Najib Razak to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest is explicit and not subject to alternative interpretations.
Malaysia’s royal palace said there is no ambiguity in the conditional pardon issued by Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar that permits former prime minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest. The statement, released on Nov. 7, noted that the Federal Territories Pardons Board considered Najib’s petition under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution at its meeting on Sept. 18, which was attended by the Federal Territories Minister and the Attorney-General, who advised the king.
"The conditional pardon order is clear, explicit and free from any ambiguity, and it is not linked to any other cases against him," the palace said.
The decree stipulates that Najib may remain under house arrest provided he pays a RM50 million (approximately S$15.7 million) fine, a condition that was satisfied after the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) paid the amount to the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry. Following the payment, the court issued an order for Najib to serve the rest of his sentence at home, with documents to be delivered to Kajang Prison authorities.
The palace emphasized that the power of pardon is a royal prerogative under Article 42 of the constitution and must be respected. It warned that any challenge to the order would disregard the king’s decree. The Attorney-General’s Chambers had earlier asked for a temporary pause to clarify legal questions about whether the fine payment ends the prison term or merely satisfies the financial condition. Najib, sentenced in 2020 to 12 years in prison and a RM210 million fine for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering, had his sentence reduced to six years and the fine lowered to RM50 million in January 2024. The conditional pardon, announced on Sept. 18, allows house arrest until Aug. 23, 2028, subject to the stated conditions.