Prisons Department Awaits Official Notice on Najib’s House Arrest, Says Saifuddin

KULIM, Sept 19 — The Prisons Department has not yet received an official letter notifying it of the Pardons Board’s decision regarding a conditional pardon for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said today.

Speaking to reporters after visiting a bereaved family in Kulim, Saifuddin explained that the department must thoroughly review the official notification to ensure the decision is executed in full compliance with existing laws.

“We need to see the letter first. At present, Najib is serving his prison sentence. House arrest means he would no longer be in prison but at another premises, and there would, of course, be a process to follow,” Saifuddin said. “So, to be on the safe side, I should comment to the media only after we receive the official notification letter.”

Saifuddin noted that the ministry must examine the document’s contents to clarify key operational details, including whether the Pardons Board specified the designated premises for house arrest or left the implementation details to the Prisons Department, as well as whether any additional directives were issued.

He recalled that under the previous Pardons Board decision, the ministry was officially notified that Najib’s prison sentence had been commuted from 12 years to six years and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million, setting his release for Aug 23, 2028, or Aug 23, 2029 if the fine remained unpaid.

Addressing the legal framework, Saifuddin acknowledged that Malaysia currently lacks a specific law governing house arrest. However, his ministry has secured in-principle approval from the Cabinet to begin drafting a House Arrest Bill, primarily as a mechanism to alleviate severe prison overcrowding. He revealed that 41 correctional facilities nationwide currently accommodate approximately 93,000 inmates, significantly exceeding their total design capacity of around 75,000.

The minister’s remarks come after His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon permitting him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to the payment of an RM50 million fine and other conditions.

–NMT