House Arrest: Challenging Najib’s Pardon Order Could Be Deemed Defiance of King’s Decree – Istana Negara
KUALA LUMPUR: Any argument challenging the conditional pardon order granted to Datuk Seri Najib Razak could amount to defying the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim.
Istana Negara, in a statement shared on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s social media account today, stressed that all conditions stipulated in the conditional pardon order allowing the former Prime Minister to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest had been fulfilled.
According to the statement, the pardon order issued on September 18, 2026, was clear, explicit and unambiguous, and was not linked to any other cases involving Najib.
“On September 18, 2026, the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya considered the petition submitted by Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
“The Pardons Board meeting, which was also attended by the Federal Territories Minister and the Attorney General, provided the appropriate advice to His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim.
“Subsequently, His Majesty ordered that Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, subject to the condition that he pay a fine of RM50 million,” the statement explained.
In this regard, Istana Negara stressed that there should be no confusion over the interpretation or prolonged uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the decision approved by His Majesty.
The statement also emphasised that the power of pardon is a royal prerogative provided for under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
As such, the exercise of this power must be fully respected in accordance with the country’s system of Constitutional Monarchy and the principle of the rule of law.
“Given that all conditions stipulated in the conditional pardon order have been fulfilled, any argument challenging the order could amount to defying the decree of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” Istana Negara reiterated.
Astro AWANI