KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is back at Kajang Prison after his brief reprieve from incarceration, with the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) ordering a temporary suspension of arrangements for him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest pending further legal clarification.
The decision came on the same day Najib’s RM50 million fine in the SRC International case was settled, raising fresh questions over the interpretation of his conditional pardon and the legal implications of the High Court’s subsequent discharge order.
In a statement, the AGC said under the first interpretation, Najib’s prison sentence would remain in force until Aug 23, 2028, with house arrest serving as an alternative arrangement for completing the remaining term rather than terminating the sentence.
The second interpretation suggests that payment of the RM50 million fine would activate the pardon in full, effectively bringing the entire sentence for the SRC International case, including the prison term, to an end.
The AGC said the issue had become more complicated following the High Court’s issuance of an Order of Discharge on Payment of Fine dated Nov 6, after the payment was recorded.
Although the order directed Najib’s immediate release, it also stated that the remainder of his sentence should be served under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, in accordance with the conditional pardon.
The legal implications also extend to Najib’s separate 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) conviction, as the court had ordered that the prison sentence for that case begin only after he completes his sentence in the SRC International case.
The AGC said this required further examination, particularly in light of the High Court’s rejection on Oct 14 of Najib’s application to stay the execution of his sentence in the 1MDB case.
Describing the matter as involving complex legal questions with implications for both royal pardons and court orders, the AGC said definitive clarification was necessary before further action could be taken.
It stressed that the temporary suspension was not intended to challenge or disregard the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree, but to ensure that it and the relevant court orders were implemented accurately and in accordance with the law.
Najib will therefore remain at his existing place of detention while the legal questions are examined.
The AGC said further action would be taken once the necessary legal assessment and clarification had been completed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has expressed disagreement with Umno’s decision to pay the RM50 million fine on Najib’s behalf, saying corruption and abuse of power must not be overlooked in the name of friendship.
Anwar said personal relationships with Najib should not create the impression that corruption involving billions of ringgit could be disregarded, stressing the need to uphold strong moral principles.
“Personally, I disagree. While we have a sense of friendship with Datuk Seri Najib, it must not give the public the impression that corruption involving billions of ringgit can simply be overlooked.
“What values are we teaching our children? We must uphold firm moral principles that reject abuse of power and corruption,” he told reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Taman Kosas here today.
However, Anwar acknowledged that Umno was entitled to make the payment, adding that the government respected the legal process and the decision of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, under the Federal Constitution.
Earlier today, Umno announced that it had closed its special Najib Razak Solidarity Fund after collecting sufficient public contributions to settle the RM50 million fine.
Party secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said all payment procedures had been completed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court that morning.
The crowdfunding initiative was launched on Sept 18 to gather public donations to assist Najib, who is also a former Umno president.
Najib’s special officer, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, arrived at the court at 11.30am to arrange the payment and complete the necessary administrative procedures.
Najib, 73, has been incarcerated at Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, following his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International.
Separately, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said his resignation would take effect immediately once Najib was allowed to leave prison and begin serving the remainder of his sentence at home.
“If he sets foot at home tonight, it takes effect tonight. If it’s tomorrow, then it’s tomorrow,” he told reporters after chairing the Transport Ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting here today.
Loke said he had submitted his resignation letter to Anwar on Sept 28 and would send a subsequent letter to the prime minister in light of the latest developments.
The DAP secretary-general said his decision reflected the party’s firm position on the proposed house arrest arrangement for the former Pekan MP. – November 6, 2026