Overview
- The Federal Territories Pardons Board reconvened at the king’s Istana Negara residence and on Sept. 18 the Yang di-Pertuan Agong granted a conditional pardon allowing Najib Razak to serve the rest of his term at home until Aug. 23, 2028.
- The pardon is contingent on Najib paying RM50 million and meeting strict compliance rules, and officials say any breach will void the pardon and require him to return immediately to prison.
- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly urged acceptance of the king’s decision and defended the rule of law, while UMNO leader Ahmad Zahid Hamidi welcomed the reprieve and announced a party fundraising drive to help Najib pay the fine.
- Critics and some officials have questioned the rapid, unusual recall of the Pardons Board and the closed meeting at the palace, raising concerns about transparency in the clemency process.
- Najib remains convicted in multiple 1MDB-related cases—he began serving a reduced six-year term in 2022 after an earlier pardon and faces a separate 15-year sentence and multi‑billion‑ringgit fines from a 2025 conviction—an issue that could deepen strain within the governing coalition and shape political sentiment ahead of the next election.