KUALA LUMPUR — The house arrest arrangement is conditional on Najib Razak paying a 50 million ringgit fine. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim addressed the decision, stating that the constitution provides for the king's absolute powers and urged the public to accept the ruling.

"I want to stress that the principle of the rule of law remains intact. Our commitment to taking action against all cases of corruption is not affected, and this does not mean the country should bow to practices of embezzlement and corruption," Anwar Ibrahim said.

Former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli urged the government to explain the full conditions of Razak’s house arrest. The Home Ministry has not released details regarding the specific conditions of the house arrest.

In January 2024, the Pardons Board reduced Razak's sentence to six years and his fine to 50 million ringgit. In December 2025, Razak was found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering related to over $700 million from 1MDB. He received a sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of 11.4 billion ringgit for those charges. Razak is appealing the December 2025 conviction.

Timeline

In December 2025, Razak was found guilty of abuse of power and money laundering related to over $700 million from 1MDB and sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 11.4 billion ringgit. On September 17, 2026, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted a conditional pardon to former Prime Minister Razak. On the same day, Razak is permitted to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028.

Also on September 17, 2026, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the constitution provides for the king's absolute powers and urged the public to accept the decision. Former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli urged the government to explain the full conditions of Razak’s house arrest on September 17, 2026.

What's New

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the conditional pardon granted to former Prime Minister Razak would not affect the government’s commitment against corruption and that the principle of the rule of law remains intact. On September 18, 2026, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, chaired by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, granted former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, provided he pays a RM50 million fine.

How Sources Differ

Sources differ on the details of the house arrest. Former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli urged the government to explain the full conditions of Razak’s house arrest, while dw.com reported that the Federal Territories Pardons Board granted the pardon on September 18, 2026. Regarding the title of former prime minister, dw.com referred to Najib Abdul Razak, while doi.org referenced research on Razak published in 2018. Dw.com stated the Federal Territories Pardons Board granted the pardon to Najib Abdul Razak, whereas the Malaysian government statement said Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted a conditional pardon to former Prime Minister Razak.

Dw.com identified the Federal Territories Pardons Board as the granting body, while the Pardons Board ruling noted that in January 2024, the Pardons Board reduced Razak's sentence. Dw.com reported the board granted the pardon allowing house arrest, while the Malaysian government statement specified that Razak is permitted to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028. Dw.com mentioned the pardon allowed house arrest, while the Malaysian government statement clarified that the house arrest arrangement is conditional on Razak paying a 50 million ringgit fine. Dw.com cited the Federal Territories Pardons Board, while Pardons Board records stated the board convened a meeting to decide on the clemency application one week after deferring the previous application. Dw.com reported on the pardon granting house arrest, while the Malaysian Home Ministry stated it has not released details regarding the conditions of Razak's house arrest.

Why It Matters

The events surrounding Razak's legal proceedings span a decade, from 2018 to 2028. The reduction of the fine from 210 million ringgit to 50 million ringgit represents a financial adjustment in the final resolution of the SRC International case.

The conditional pardon allows Razak to leave prison but requires strict adherence to house arrest conditions until August 23, 2028. The lack of publicly released details from the Home Ministry regarding the specific terms of this house arrest leaves questions about the monitoring and restrictions placed on the former prime minister during this period.