Malaysian ex-PM’s transfer to house arrest on hold

Attorney-general says ​more legal clarity needed over royal pardon for Najib

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has temporarily postponed a plan ​to transfer ⁠jailed former prime minister Najib Razak to house arrest, the attorney-general’s office said on Friday, saying it needed time to ‌review a pardon issued by the king and a court order allowing the move.

Najib, prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was found ⁠guilty of corruption in relation to the embezzlement of billions of dollars tied to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state investment fund he co-founded while in power. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim agreed ​in September to allow Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest, in a second ​royal ‌pardon over his conviction.

Najib’s party, the United Malays National Organisation, said on Friday it had paid a fine of 50 ​million ⁠ringgit ($12.3 million) to fulfill the conditions of the pardon on the ex-premier’s behalf.

A Malaysian court ⁠then issued an order allowing Najib’s transfer home, his lawyer said earlier, adding the plan was for that to take place on Friday.

Questions have arisen ⁠over the legal interpretation of the pardon and ​the subsequent court order, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said in a statement.

“In this regard, the implementation of house arrest … should be temporarily suspended until further investigation ‌and clarification… are completed,” ⁠it said.

Police stand guard outside the residence of jailed former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak in anticipation of his arrival, which was later put on hold, on Nov 6, 2026. (Photo: Reuters)