Post by : Rohit Dhiman

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has left prison after the payment of a RM50 million fine, clearing a major condition attached to the arrangement allowing him to serve the remaining portion of his sentence under house arrest. The 73-year-old former leader departed from the Kajang Prison compound on Friday, November 6, 2026. His release marks a significant development in a long-running legal case that has remained at the centre of Malaysian political and public debate. Najib's party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), confirmed that the RM50 million fine, equivalent to approximately US$12.3 million, had been paid to the Kuala Lumpur High Court earlier that morning. The payment followed a public fundraising campaign launched to collect the required amount. According to a report by Malaysian newspaper Utusan Malaysia, Najib left the prison premises at approximately 2:37 pm in a silver car. Several escort vehicles and a Malaysian Prisons Department van were seen accompanying the vehicle. Although his departure from the prison was reported, his immediate destination had not been officially confirmed at the time. It remained unclear whether he would be taken directly to his residence on Jalan Langgak Duta in Kuala Lumpur, where he is expected to complete the remainder of his sentence.

RM50 Million Fine Paid Through Public Fundraising Campaign

The payment of the RM50 million penalty was an essential condition for Najib to move from prison to house arrest under the conditional pardon arrangement. UMNO had established a fundraising initiative called the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund in September. The campaign invited members of the public and supporters to contribute towards the amount required under the terms of the pardon. The fundraising effort continued until the party announced that the target had been achieved. On Friday, UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed that the money had been transferred to the Kuala Lumpur High Court. He also indicated that public contributions were no longer required for this purpose because the campaign had successfully collected the necessary amount. The confirmation of payment removed the financial condition that had to be fulfilled before the house arrest arrangement could proceed. The campaign had attracted considerable public attention because of the amount involved and the connection between the fundraising effort and the former prime minister's legal status. With the payment completed, Najib was able to leave Kajang Prison.

Najib's Departure From Kajang Prison Draws Attention

Najib's departure from Kajang Prison attracted attention as the former Malaysian leader began the transition from imprisonment to serving his sentence at home. Utusan Malaysia reported that he left the prison compound at around 2:37 pm in a silver vehicle. The car was accompanied by several escort vehicles, along with a Malaysian Prisons Department van. The movement of vehicles and the security arrangements surrounding the departure became a major focus of attention on Friday. However, officials had not confirmed the exact location to which Najib was being taken immediately after leaving the prison. His expected residence in Kuala Lumpur was considered a possible destination, but his arrival there had not been established in the initial report. The distinction is important because leaving the prison compound does not, by itself, confirm the completion of every practical arrangement associated with house arrest.

Police Security Tightened Near Najib Razak's Kuala Lumpur Residence

Security preparations were also visible around Najib's residence in the Jalan Langgak Duta area of Kuala Lumpur. According to an AFP journalist who visited the location around noon on Friday, the road leading towards the former prime minister's upscale residence had been cordoned off. Yellow police tape and traffic cones were used to restrict access. Royal Malaysia Police personnel were stationed behind the police line. Patrol cars and mobile police vans were also positioned near the entrance to the road. Two tents had reportedly been set up in the area as part of preparations for crowd management. The arrangements indicated that authorities were preparing for possible public gatherings and increased activity around the residence following news of Najib's release. The security presence also reflected the public interest surrounding the case. Najib remains a prominent political figure in Malaysia, and his conviction, sentence reduction and subsequent house arrest arrangement have generated considerable discussion. Nevertheless, the initial report did not confirm whether he had reached the residence or whether the arrangements there had become his formal house arrest location.

Why Was Najib Razak Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison?

Najib Razak served as Malaysia's prime minister from 2009 until 2018. His political career later became closely associated with the SRC International case and the wider financial controversy involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad, commonly known as 1MDB. SRC International was formerly a subsidiary of the Malaysian state investment fund 1MDB. Najib was convicted on seven charges involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International. Following the conviction, he was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of RM210 million. He began serving his prison sentence in 2022 after his legal efforts to overturn the conviction were unsuccessful. The case attracted widespread attention in Malaysia and internationally because of the financial allegations connected to the wider 1MDB scandal. It also became a major issue in Malaysian politics, particularly because Najib had occupied the country's highest political office.

Throughout the proceedings, Najib has consistently denied wrongdoing.

His conviction and imprisonment represented a major development in Malaysia's efforts to address the cases linked to the financial controversy surrounding the state investment fund. Malaysia's Pardons Board Reduced Najib's Sentence in 2024 A significant change in Najib's punishment came in 2024, when Malaysia's Pardons Board reviewed his case and announced a reduction in his sentence. The original 12-year prison term was cut by half, reducing it to six years. His financial penalty was also lowered from RM210 million to RM50 million. The decision substantially changed the period he was expected to remain in prison. However, the sentence reduction did not automatically mean that he could serve the remaining term at his residence. Najib later pursued a legal challenge concerning an alleged additional order, commonly described as an addendum order, issued by Malaysia's then-King Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. Najib maintained that the additional order allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest rather than in a prison facility. The issue became the subject of legal proceedings, with questions surrounding the order and its implementation forming an important part of the dispute.

September 2026 Royal Pardon Made House Arrest Possible

Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar granted Najib a conditional pardon in September 2026. Under the arrangement described in the report, the former prime minister was allowed to serve the remaining portion of his original sentence under house arrest, provided that he paid the RM50 million fine. This condition was central to the latest development. Until the required amount was paid, the financial requirement attached to the arrangement remained outstanding. The public fundraising campaign organised through UMNO was intended to collect the money needed to fulfil that condition. Once the party confirmed that the entire amount had been paid to the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Najib's release from Kajang Prison followed. The arrangement is expected to remain in effect until his anticipated release date in August 2028. It is important to note that the conditional pardon changes the way Najib serves the remaining part of his sentence. It does not mean that his original conviction in the SRC International case has been overturned.

When Is Najib Razak Expected to Complete His Sentence?

Under the terms of the conditional pardon described in the report, Najib is expected to remain under house arrest until August 2028. His release from Kajang Prison on November 6, 2026, therefore represents a change in the location and conditions of his sentence rather than an immediate end to the punishment. The initial report did not provide a detailed account of all the practical restrictions that will apply during the house arrest period. It also did not confirm his exact destination immediately after leaving prison. The anticipated August 2028 date is based on the arrangement announced in connection with the conditional pardon. The coming period will therefore be significant in determining how the house arrest conditions are implemented and monitored.

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What Does Najib Razak's Release Mean for Malaysian Politics?

Najib's release from prison is a major development because of his former position as Malaysia's prime minister and the political importance of the cases involving SRC International and 1MDB. His imprisonment in 2022 was widely viewed as a landmark moment in a case involving a former head of government. The later reduction of his sentence, legal proceedings over the alleged house arrest order and the conditional royal pardon have kept the matter in the public spotlight. The latest development also highlights the role of Malaysia's constitutional pardon process and the conditions that may accompany such decisions.

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