My relationship with the king remains good, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has denied allegations that he disobeyed the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, regarding the government’s handling of Najib Razak’s house arrest. In an event in Ayer Molek, Anwar stated that the king personally called him and affirmed that their relationship remains friendly. He clarified that the house arrest decision fell under judicial processes rather than his unilateral authority, emphasizing that his powers were defined by the law.

The attorney-general played a crucial role in ensuring compliance with the law, including seeking clarification and referring matters to the court for ruling. Anwar highlighted that the attorney-general delayed the decision due to their responsibility to uphold the law, and that a court ruling was necessary before implementation.

The former prime minister, Najib Razak, was granted a six-year prison sentence for the SRC International case, which was later halved to three years upon receiving a royal pardon in 2024. In 2026, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong extended this to a house arrest sentence until August 2028. Anwar also addressed criticisms from an Umno minister who doubted the government’s capability to further reduce fuel prices, noting that fuel prices had indeed been lowered to RM1.99 per liter.