Najib Razak's house arrest application postponed by Pardon Board

The application by former Prime Minister Najib Razak for house arrest to serve the remainder of his sentence has been postponed by the Pardon Board. Constitutional expert Prof Madya Datuk Dr Wan Ahmad Fauzi Wan Husain noted that the postponement by Sultan Ibrahim does not constitute a rejection, but rather indicates the Board is not yet ready to make a decision. The application may be reconsidered in future meetings once additional inputs, such as written opinions from the Attorney General, are obtained.

The Board faces two primary options: maintaining the status quo with Najib serving his sentence in Kajang Prison, or granting relief in the form of house arrest for part or all of the remaining term.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations and student movements have expressed opposition to the potential house arrest. They argue that Najib should serve his remaining sentence in prison, noting that he has already received sentence reductions. These groups also raised concerns regarding his ongoing legal matters, including 1MDB-related cases, and questioned why his application is being prioritized over other inmates.