THE fund to help Datuk Seri Najib Razak meet the RM50 million fine tied to his conditional house detention is still RM40.75 million short of its target, with RM9.25 million collected as of 10am today, UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said further fundraising efforts were under way, stressing that the full amount had to be settled before the house-detention arrangement could be fully implemented.
“As of 10am today, RM9.25 million has been collected and this is still insufficient to reach the RM50 million figure.
“Efforts are being made to increase the collection and we hope our friends will be able to help in the near future to reach the amount decided by the Pardons Board.
“The amount must be settled before the house detention can be fully implemented,” he said at a press conference while attending the 18th annual general assembly of Parti Makkal Sakti Malaysia at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.
On Sept 25, Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said the former prime minister was unable to raise the amount himself following the freezing of several of his bank accounts.
Muhammad Shafee also said Najib had never sought public donations to pay the fine, with the fundraising effort initiated by other parties.
On Sept 20, Shafee’s firm said Najib was seeking advice and considering his options for meeting the payment condition, as most of his assets, bank accounts and properties remained subject to freezing orders and enforcement action.
The Najib Razak Solidarity Fund launched by UMNO had earlier raised RM1 million in about a day, after collecting RM165,645 in its first hour and RM634,562.02 within three hours.
UMNO announced the fund on Sept 18 to help Najib settle the RM50 million fine, with contributions opened voluntarily to party leaders, members, supporters and other parties.
The fundraising followed the decision of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories to grant Najib a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house detention until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of the RM50 million fine. - September 27, 2026