Malaysia's King Grants Najib Razak House Arrest Pardon

September 21, 2026 at 10:29 AM2 min

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Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest. Najib, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2022 for his role in the 1MDB scandal. The decision has sparked public outcry and renewed debate over the rule of law in Malaysia.

Key Facts

Najib Razak, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2022 after Malaysia's top court upheld his conviction in a case linked to the 1MDB scandal.
The pardon requires Najib to pay a 50 million ringgit ($12 million) fine, and his sentence expires on August 23, 2028.
Najib's original 2020 conviction sentenced him to 12 years in prison and a 210 million ringgit ($51.5 million) fine for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.
The 1MDB scandal involved at least $4.5 billion drained from the state investment fund and led to criminal investigations in the United States, Switzerland, and Singapore.
In early 2024, a previous royal pardon halved Najib's prison sentence and reduced his fine to 50 million ringgit.

The Pardon Decision

Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar granted Najib a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison term under house arrest. The government confirmed the pardon in a statement, noting that Najib must pay a 50 million ringgit ($12 million) fine imposed by the courts. Najib's sentence expires on August 23, 2028, and the pardon effectively overrides a December 2025 Kuala Lumpur High Court decision that rejected his house arrest bid. The Associated Press described the decision as an unprecedented use of house arrest as a form of royal clemency in Malaysia.

1MDB Scandal Background

The 1MDB state investment fund was established shortly after Najib's election in 2009, and Malaysian investigators claim at least $4.5 billion was drained from it. The scandal helped bring down Najib's government in the 2018 general election and led to criminal investigations in the United States, Switzerland, and Singapore. Najib's 2020 conviction related to his illegal receipt of around $10 million from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB.

Legal and Political Fallout

Najib has pursued legal and political tactics to reduce his sentence, including a 2024 royal pardon from Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah of Pahang that halved his prison term. He also mounted a legal bid claiming a royal addendum order entitled him to house arrest, but the Kuala Lumpur High Court rejected that bid in December 2025. The latest pardon has prompted an outcry and created another potential political headache for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysian social media commentary has reflected resigned acceptance that the rich and powerful evade accountability.