THE Home Ministry and Prisons Department have yet to receive a formal order on the Pardons Board’s decision allowing Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry would wait for the board’s notification before deciding how the decision should be implemented.
“At the Home Ministry, which oversees the Prisons Department, we will wait for the official letter informing us of yesterday’s decision by the Pardons Board.
“As of now, we have not received anything,” he told reporters after visiting the families of four children who drowned in Taman Desa Kayangan, Sungai Karangan, today.
Saifuddin said the ministry needed to examine the terms of the decision, including whether a location had been specified for Najib’s house arrest or whether that would be determined by the Prisons Department.
“I need to see the letter first. Currently, Datuk Seri Najib is serving his prison sentence.
“House arrest means he will not be in prison but at another premises, and there are natural processes to follow,” he said.
Najib’s 12-year prison sentence was previously reduced to six years, while his RM210 million fine was cut to RM50 million.
Saifuddin said Najib would be released on Aug 23, 2028 if the RM50 million fine was paid. If it was not paid, his release date would be Aug 23, 2029.
On house arrest more broadly, Saifuddin said Malaysia currently had no specific legislation governing the arrangement.
He said the Cabinet had agreed in principle for the government to draft a House Arrest Bill for tabling in Parliament.
The proposal was initially aimed at easing prison overcrowding, particularly involving remand detainees.
“We currently have 41 prisons housing about 93,000 inmates, despite a total capacity of only 75,000.
“That is why I obtained Cabinet approval in principle to begin the process of tabling a House Arrest Act to address prison overcrowding,” he said.
Saifuddin said the proposed law would allow certain remand prisoners to be placed under house arrest and monitored electronically while awaiting trial. – September 19, 2026
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