Najib's house arrest charts new legal ground, says constitutional lawyer

Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim has approved the house arrest of former Prime Minister Najib Razak for the remainder of his sentence, the government announced on Friday, four years after his conviction in a multi-billion-dollar financial scandal. Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, was found guilty of corruption in connection with embezzlement involving the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Despite consistently denying wrongdoing, Najib has served two previous pardons, most recently in 2024 when his 12-year sentence was reduced to house arrest. This latest ruling allows him to serve until August 23, 2028.

The 1MDB scandal involved the alleged misappropriation of over $1 billion, potentially up to $4.5 billion, from accounts linked to Najib, according to US investigators. This is not the first time Najib has faced leniency; in 2024, his 12-year sentence was halved and fines reduced. He currently serves a 15-year sentence for abuse of power and money laundering related to the same case. Najib's legal team has lodged an appeal in this case as well.

Najib remains a polarizing figure in Malaysian politics, still influential within the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which is part of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's multi-party government. Anwar's Pakatan Harapan alliance has criticized the pardon, fearing it could deepen divisions within Anwar's administration. While the next election is not until early 2028, Anwar has hinted at the possibility of calling an early poll if the rifts persist.

The pardon has also been seen as a significant victory for UMNO, which could bolster its position ahead of the next election.