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Najib Gets Conditional Pardon, House Arrest Until 2028

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 10:44 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

King Sultan Ibrahim granted former Prime Minister Najib Razak a conditional pardon to serve his sentence under house arrest.
The pardon obliges Najib to pay a 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine.
House arrest will remain in effect until 23 August 2028, when his sentence ends.
If Najib breaches any condition, the pardon will be revoked, requiring his return to prison.
He was convicted in July 2020 of 1MDB corruption.

History

Historical Context

In September 1998 Mahathir Mohamad removed Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, sparking Reformasi protests that drew tens of thousands in Kuala Lumpur demanding judicial reform. The movement created the multiracial Keadilan party, later merging into Pakatan Harapan, which toppled Barisan Negara Semua in 2018. These precedents show how executive actions and opposition coalitions have shaped Malaysia’s fight over corruption and stability.

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Story summary

King Sultan Ibrahim granted former Prime Minister Najib Razak a conditional pardon to serve his sentence under house arrest.
The pardon obliges Najib to pay a 50 million ringgit (US$12.3 million) fine.
House arrest will remain in effect until 23 August 2028, when his sentence ends.
If Najib breaches any condition, the pardon will be revoked, requiring his return to prison.
He was convicted in July 2020 of 1MDB corruption.

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