Malaysian King Grants Former PM Najib House Arrest for Remainder of Prison Sentence

The Malaysian King has issued a decree allowing former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International under house arrest, according to senior lawyer Nizam Bashir Abdul Kariem Bashir. The decision has raised questions and concerns, with observers stating that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim cannot stay silent on the matter.

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi affirmed an affidavit confirming the existence of a supplementary royal order granting Najib house arrest. However, Anwar declined to comment on whether he had seen the addendum, stating that the government will not intervene in the decisions of the Pardons Board, as the King and Malay Rulers have absolute authority over such matters.

Activists and human rights groups have criticized the decision, arguing that it shows double standards and undermines the rule of law. "The government has a duty to provide an explanation to the public, as it has a representative on the Pardons Board," said Malaysian Bar president Salim Bashir Bhaskaran.

Legal experts have called for the government to prove the existence of the addendum decree, questioning whether the Pardons Board has the authority to impose house arrest. They point out that Malaysia currently does not have provisions for house detention, and a new act would need to be enacted to implement it.

Why this matters: The controversy surrounding Najib's prison sentence and the alleged royal addendum has strained the alliance between Umno and Pakatan Harapan, with Umno leaders demanding answers from their party president. The issue reflects broader concerns about transparency, the rule of law, and the handling of high-profile corruption cases in Malaysia.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has distanced himself from the matter, emphasizing that it falls under the jurisdiction of the Pardons Board and involves the King and Malay Rulers. Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who allegedly showed the addendum order to Zahid, has announced plans to file an affidavit to correct certain factual errors in Zahid's affidavit. As the government faces mounting pressure to address the issue, the mechanisms and processes for implementing house detention remain unclear, leaving many questions unanswered.

Key Takeaways

• Malaysian King issued decree allowing ex-PM Najib to serve sentence under house arrest.
• Govt affirmed existence of royal addendum, but PM Anwar declined to comment on it.
• Activists and experts criticized the decision, questioning legal basis and transparency.
• Controversy strains alliance between Umno and Pakatan Harapan, demands answers from govt.
• Mechanisms and processes for implementing house detention remain unclear, raising questions.