Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar claimed he wanted to ensure the proper legality of Najib Razak’s house arrest bid, but only the staunchest supporters of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed with this view, The Straits Times reported on Nov. 8, 2026.
For the rest of Malaysia, the condition set by the Federal Territories Pardons Board on Sept. 18 for the former prime minister to return to his palatial mansion in Kuala Lumpur was simple: pay the RM50 million fine. Nearly two months after that condition was set, the Attorney-General’s Chambers stated there could be two interpretations of the clemency decreed by the King, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers stated that the second interpretation of the Nov. 6 High Court discharge order meant Najib was freed of the graft conviction related to SRC International after paying the RM50 million on Nov. 6. The statement noted that the discharge order freed Najib immediately while simultaneously stating that the remainder of his sentence should be served under house arrest until Aug. 23, 2028, according to The Straits Times.
Channel NewsAsia reported that the King warned against disputing his royal prerogative under Article 42 of Malaysia’s Federal Constitution, stating that any argument disputing the conditional pardon order would amount to defying his command. Concurrently, Malaysiakini reported that a group of NGOs, including Projek Sama, C4 Center, and Bersih, urged all quarters to allow the judiciary to arbitrate the differing interpretations of the court order, calling the Attorney-General’s vigilance commendable.
The Pardons Board had halved Najib’s 12-year SRC sentence in 2024, raising discontent among supporters of the Pakatan Harapan coalition. Democratic Action Party secretary-general Anthony Loke vowed to quit as Transport Minister the moment Najib trades prison for his residence, though The Star reported that DAP ministers and deputy ministers would remain in government to complete institutional reforms.
/file/publisher-c1a3f893382d2b2f8a9aa22a654d9c97/2020/02/0a9c81a6944900484a12faa8ffb3f05a.jpg "Photo: Malaysiakini")
Adib Zalkapli, managing director of advisory firm Viewfinder Global Affairs, told The Straits Times that the Attorney-General’s Chambers should have resolved these legal issues during the two months following the Pardons Board decision, creating a public perception of a political agenda. Mothership reported that UMNO completed all payment processes to the Kuala Lumpur High Court after the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund reached its target.
| Event / Milestone | Date | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Pardons Board Decision | Sept. 18, 2026 | Set condition for house arrest tied to an RM50 million fine. |
| Fine Settlement | Nov. 6, 2026 | UMNO paid the RM50 million fine via public crowdfunding. |
| AGC Legal Intervention | Nov. 6, 2026 | Flagged two interpretations of the High Court discharge order. |
| Scheduled Sentence Completion | Aug. 23, 2028 | Original timeline for the remainder of the SRC prison sentence. |
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim faces mounting political pressure ahead of a general election expected within six to 12 months, as prior compromises involving UMNO leaders continue to test his anti-graft platform.
