Najib’s house arrest at ‘discretion’ of Malaysia’s king, Anwar says

Sultan Ibrahim of Johor will make the decision on Najib Razak’s fate, Malaysia’s current prime minister told parliament

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Malaysia’s king Sultan Ibrahim (left) has lunch with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Johor on Monday. Photo: Facebook/anwaribrahimofficial

Published: 1:46pm, 10 Dec 2024

A decision on whether Malaysia’s former leader Najib Razak can serve the remainder of his prison sentence from the comfort of his own home lies solely in the hands of the nation’s king, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told parliament on Tuesday.

Convicted in 2020 for his role in the multibillion-dollar plunder of the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund, Najib was initially sentenced to 12 years behind bars – before his prison term was halved in February by Sultan Abdullah, Malaysia’s previous king, in one of his final acts before stepping down.

Speculation is now swirling that Sultan Abdullah may have gone even further, allegedly issuing a separate decree allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Najib, his legal team, and his family claim such a decree exists, but the mere suggestion has triggered outrage among Malaysians. Already angered by the former prime minister’s reduced sentence, many see the possibility of house arrest as yet another example of elite impunity.

Malaysia’s current monarch, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. Photo: AFP

On Tuesday, Anwar addressed these concerns, saying that he had raised the matter with Malaysia’s current monarch, Sultan Ibrahim of Johor. The ultimate decision, the prime minister said, rests with the king, who is set to discuss the issue at a pardons board meeting.

“I have proposed for it to be considered by the current king, at a time where he sees fit, for him to refer to it in the pardons board meeting, which will be chaired by him,” Anwar told parliament.