Post by : Rohit Dhiman

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak will remain in prison after the Federal Territories Pardons Board decided to defer his latest application for a pardon to a future meeting. The decision was made during the board’s meeting on Friday, Sept 11. The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed after the meeting that Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar had consented to postpone consideration of Najib’s application. Najib is currently serving his sentence at Kajang Prison. His current prison term is scheduled to end on Aug 23, 2028 following a partial royal pardon granted in January 2024.

Pardons Board Defers Najib’s Application

The latest development means Najib will not receive an immediate decision on his fresh clemency request. Instead, his application will remain pending until a future meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board. Sultan Ibrahim presides over the board. Its members include the Attorney-General, Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh and three other members. During Friday’s meeting, the King also consented to the release of 65 prisoners. Non-citizens among those released are to be returned to their respective countries within six months, according to the statement issued after the meeting. The decision on Najib’s case came amid heightened public and political attention surrounding his latest request for clemency.

Najib Currently Serving Sentence in Kajang Prison

The 73-year-old former prime minister has been imprisoned since August 2022. He was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million after being convicted in the SRC International case. The charges included criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power. The case involved RM42 million transferred from SRC International, formerly a subsidiary of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, into Najib’s personal bank accounts. In January 2024, Najib received a partial royal pardon. His prison sentence was reduced by half, while his fine was lowered to RM50 million. As a result, his current sentence is expected to end in August 2028.

House Arrest Issue Also Linked to Najib’s Case

Najib’s legal battle has also involved a disputed claim concerning an alleged order allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. After receiving the partial royal pardon, Najib maintained that the former King, Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, had issued an additional order concerning house arrest. However, the High Court later ruled that the alleged order could not be enforced because it had not been discussed during the January 2024 meeting of the Pardons Board. Najib subsequently appealed the decision but withdrew that appeal in April this year. No reason was given for the withdrawal in the court documents reported by Malaysian media.

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Political Attention Surrounds Najib’s Clemency Bid

Najib remains an influential figure within Malaysia’s political landscape despite his imprisonment. He served as Malaysia’s prime minister from 2009 to 2018 and continues to have considerable support within Barisan Nasional, particularly among members of the United Malays National Organisation. His latest clemency application also came as UMNO was holding its general assembly from Sept 9 to 12. UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously expressed hope for a favourable outcome for Najib, while stressing that the final decision remained under the authority of the King. The issue has also exposed differences between political parties forming Malaysia’s unity government.

PH and UMNO Take Different Positions

Pakatan Harapan recently stressed that individuals convicted of corruption or abuse of power should serve the sentences imposed by the courts. The coalition said decisions involving high-profile cases should also take into consideration public confidence in Malaysia’s reform and anti-corruption efforts. UMNO, however, criticised the statement for appearing to question the constitutional authority of the King to grant pardons. UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party did not intend to influence or pre-empt the Pardons Board’s deliberations and maintained that whatever decision was reached through the proper legal process should be respected.

Najib Faces Another Major Prison Sentence

Najib’s current imprisonment is not the only major legal punishment he faces. In December 2025, the High Court sentenced him to another 15 years in prison and imposed a fine of RM11.38 billion in a separate case connected to the 1MDB scandal. That case involved 25 charges relating to abuse of power and money laundering over RM2.2 billion allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB. The additional prison term was scheduled to begin after the completion of his existing sentence in 2028. Najib has appealed against that conviction and sentence.

Why Is Najib Razak Still in Prison?

Najib Razak remains in Kajang Prison because he is serving a sentence imposed following his conviction in the SRC International case. His current sentence is scheduled to end on Aug 23, 2028 after being reduced through a partial royal pardon.

What Happened to Najib’s Latest Pardon Application?

The Pardons Board did not reject Najib Razak’s latest application. Instead, the board deferred consideration of the request to a future meeting. This means his application remains pending.

Where Is Najib Razak Serving His Sentence?

Najib Razak is currently serving his prison sentence at Kajang Prison in Malaysia. His latest clemency request was considered by the Federal Territories Pardons Board in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 11, but no final decision on the application was announced.

What Happens Next for Najib Razak?

Najib’s latest pardon application will have to be considered at a future meeting of the Pardons Board. Until then, he remains in prison under his existing sentence. His separate appeal against the 2025 conviction and sentence related to the 1MDB case is also ongoing.

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