KUALA LUMPUR – There will be no early exit from a prison cell for Datuk Seri Najib Razak until he produces RM50 million in cold, hard cash, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar made clear today.
Squashing speculation over the convicted former premier’s bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under home detention, the chief prosecutor confirmed that the mandatory multimillion-ringgit fine remains completely unpaid.
While Dusuki noted that no statutory deadline has been imposed for settlement, he laid down an unequivocal bottom line regarding Najib’s confinement:
“As long as the fine is not paid, Datuk Seri Najib remains in prison,” he stated bluntly.
The Attorney-General delivered the reality check following the launch of the AGC Madani Adopted School Programme at SK Pasir Hor here today.
Najib’s bid for house arrest stems from a conditional pardon granted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim during a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board.
Under terms announced by the Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU), Najib was permitted to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under home detention until Aug 23, 2028—on the strict condition that he pay the RM50 million fine.
That conditional reprieve immediately hit a financial roadblock.
Najib’s lead defense counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, had previously admitted that his client is unable to pay the RM50 million penalty required to trigger house arrest for his SRC International conviction, claiming the former leader simply lacks the financial means to clear the sum.
The impasse prompted UMNO to launch the Tabung Solidariti Najib to help raise the funds, calling on party leaders, division chiefs, and grassroots supporters to chip in.
Until that target is met, however, the government’s position remains firm: Najib stays in prison. – November 1, 2026