In a decisive statement, King Sultan Ibrahim of Malaysia warned that any attempt to challenge his order granting former Prime Minister Najib Razak house arrest could be seen as defying the monarch’s decree. The warning came after the Attorney General’s office delayed Najib’s transfer to home confinement, citing a need for clarification on the king’s conditional pardon.
Najib, 73, was convicted in 2022 for his role in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, one of the largest sovereign‑wealth‑fund embezzlements in history. In September, the king granted Najib a conditional pardon that allows him to serve the remainder of his sentence at home, provided he pays a $12 million fine. The pardon was described by the king as “clear, evident and without any ambiguity.”
Despite the pardon, the Attorney General’s office blocked Najib’s transfer to house arrest on Friday, stating that the fine had been paid but that further clarification was required. The king responded that no clarification was needed, emphasizing that the pardon was not tied to any other cases and that all conditions had been met.
Najib’s legal team expressed gratitude to the monarch and urged the authorities to comply with the king’s order. “There is no basis for authorities to keep Najib in prison a moment longer,” lawyer Farhan Shafee said. “They must transfer him immediately to his residence at Jalan Langgak Duta to serve his house arrest, as His Majesty has ordered.”
The Attorney General’s office issued a statement clarifying that its action was not an attempt to challenge the king’s authority. It said the step was taken “to avoid any conflict in the implementation of the orders in force and to ensure no sentence is implemented unlawfully.” The statement did not confirm whether Najib would be released immediately.
Later that day, the prime minister’s office announced that the Attorney General would seek an audience with the king to “seek pardon” and express intent to comply, while noting that legal questions remained that only a court could decide. The house arrest order applies only to Najib’s first conviction; he faces an additional 15 years in prison for a separate 1MDB‑linked case, with that sentence set to begin after his house arrest term ends. Najib is currently appealing the verdict.
Malaysia’s monarchy, a rotating institution among nine regional sultans, holds a largely ceremonial role but retains discretionary powers to grant pardons under the constitution. The king’s intervention in Najib’s case underscores the influence of the monarchy in the country’s judicial processes. Malaysians hold the monarchy in high regard, and negative remarks about royalty can be prosecuted under the Sedition Act.
Source: Al Jazeera
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