Overview
- The King approved a conditional pardon on Friday, Sept 18, allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest if specific conditions are met.
- Najib remains at Kajang Prison because the key condition—a RM50 million fine—has not been paid and many of his assets are frozen, limiting his ability to raise funds.
- His lawyers say they are studying the pardon terms and exploring options to satisfy the payment requirement while asking for privacy for his family.
- Malaysia’s Prisons Department and the Home Affairs Ministry have said they will act only after they receive formal written confirmation of the pardon, and the home affairs minister can legally designate a private residence as a place of detention.
- UMNO has launched a collection fund to help meet the fine and has reported roughly 1 million ringgit in early donations, a move that has increased strain within the ruling coalition and could shape political debate over the pardon.