Government responds after legal team claims the royal letter for house detention was ignored

Malaysia’s communications minister, Fahmi Fadzil, denied that a royal document permitting former Prime Minister Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest was being concealed. On January 8, Fadzil clarified in a press briefing that he had neither been informed of nor received such a document.

This follows confirmation from the former Malaysian king’s palace that a letter authorising the move existed. The letter, which also granted Najib a reduced sentence and a pardon in 2024, was issued by the palace on January 4. However, Najib’s legal team claims that the government has not acted on this directive.

On January 6, Malaysia’s Court of Appeal overturned a prior ruling that dismissed Najib’s attempt to obtain the royal document, which he argues should enable him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. The case will be heard by a different judge in the High Court.

Minister Fahmi, while acknowledging the appeal, emphasised that the government would adhere to legal processes and respect the court’s decision. He stated that, as per the sub judice principle, the case must be handled by the judiciary without interference.

Najib, convicted in 2020 for criminal breach of trust and abuse of power linked to the 1MDB scandal, had his 12-year prison sentence reduced following a royal pardon in 2024 by Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, the former king. As part of the pardon, both Najib and the palace claim that an addendum order granting house arrest was also issued.

Najib continues to deny all wrongdoing in relation to the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal and is facing ongoing trials for corruption linked to the state fund.