Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says he is grateful to supporters who have contributed towards the RM50 million condition imposed under his conditional pardon, but stressed that such support should be given ‘entirely of their own free will and according to their respective means’. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
Summary
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, after being granted a conditional royal pardon, expressed gratitude towards those contributing to the RM50 million fine imposed on him, emphasizing that such support should be voluntary and without obligation.
A solidarity fund established by Umno collected RM1 million within a day, showcasing significant public support, although the initiative has received mixed reactions online.
The fundraising was initiated to comply with the conditions set by the Federal Territories Pardons Board, which allows Najib to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest, provided he fulfills the financial condition.
The fund's organizers promise transparency and adherence to relevant laws throughout the fundraising process.
First Published: Sunday, 20 Sep 2026 12:26 PM MYT Last Modified: Sunday, 20 Sep 2026 12:50 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says Malaysians who have offered to help pay the RM50 million fine required under his conditional royal pardon should not feel “burdened or obliged” to do so.
The statement from his lawyers comes as the Najib Razak Solidarity Fund set up by Umno to help him meet the payment reached RM1 million by 9.30am yesterday, less than a day after it was launched.
“While our client is deeply touched by these expressions of solidarity, he does not wish the Party, its members and supporters, or members of the public to feel burdened or obliged on his account,” Najib’s lawyers in the firm Messrs Shafee & Co said in a statement issued on his behalf.
The lawyers said Najib was grateful to those who had offered assistance towards meeting the condition imposed under his conditional pardon, but stressed that such support should be given “entirely of their own free will and according to their respective means”.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the fund collected RM165,645 within its first hour and RM634,562.02 within three hours, with many contributors giving RM10 or RM50.
Asyraf later announced that the fund had reached RM1 million and urged supporters to continue contributing, including donations of RM10.
The fund was launched after Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said contributions were open to party leaders, members and supporters, as well as anyone wishing to show their support voluntarily.
Zahid also said the initiative would be carried out transparently and systematically while complying with all applicable regulations and laws.
The fundraising effort has drawn mixed reactions online, with some questioning the decision to raise money for Najib and whether such funds could instead help people facing financial hardship.
The Federal Territories Pardons Board granted Najib a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, subject to payment of the RM50 million fine and other conditions.
The Attorney General has clarified that the conditional pardon applies only to the prison sentence imposed in the SRC International case.
Messrs Shafee & Co says a significant part of the former prime minister's assets, bank accounts and properties remains subject to freezing orders and enforcement proceedings by the government.
Najib Razak will serve the remainder of his sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, after receiving a conditional pardon on Friday that requires him to pay his RM50 million fine. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak’s ability to pay his RM50 million fine imposed as a condition for his house arrest is partly beyond his control as most of his assets remain subject to freezing orders and enforcement proceedings, say his lawyers.
Under the conditional pardon granted to Najib on Friday, the former Umno president will serve the remainder of his sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of the fine.
In a statement issued on his behalf today, Messrs Shafee & Co said Najib was considering his options on how best to fulfil the condition.
The law firm said he remained in Kajang prison while the condition was being addressed, and that his legal team was studying the terms of the conditional pardon and their practical implications.
“A significant part of his assets, bank accounts and properties remains subject to freezing orders and enforcement proceedings by the government, and their disposal is not presently within his sole control,” it said.
“His ability to satisfy the condition, therefore, turns in part on matters that do not lie in his own hands.”
The lawyers said Najib also expressed gratitude to those who had offered assistance towards meeting the RM50 million condition.
However, they said, he did not want Umno members, supporters or members of the public to feel burdened or obliged to assist him.
“He remains profoundly grateful to those who, entirely of their own free will and according to their respective means, have chosen to offer their support and assistance,” they said.
“Their kindness is a source of great strength to him at this time.”
The firm said Najib was grateful to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, for “graciously exercising the royal prerogative of mercy in his favour”.
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“Our client receives His Majesty’s decision with the utmost humility,” it said.
Najib, 73, was granted a conditional pardon by the Agong on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of his RM50 million fine and other conditions.
The legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department said Najib must comply with all the conditions imposed, failing which the conditional pardon would be revoked. It did not provide details of the conditions.
Najib was imprisoned in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
He had been serving a reduced six-year prison sentence at Kajang prison after the Federal Territories Pardons Board halved his original 12-year sentence in February 2024. The initial RM210 million fine was also reduced to RM50 million.
The Agong presides over meetings of the FTPB, which comprises the attorney-general, the federal territories minister, and three members appointed by him.
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Surely Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary can help, either derma or advance dulu - assuming he wants to, and ...
as for Toonsie, afterall, Najib was his mentee once😂😂😂
Ihave stated my views honestly, guided by my conscience and with the best interests of the nation in mind – says Hannah Yeoh. About a week later, the Federal Territories Minister, who is also a critical member of the Pardons Board, denied ever signing a house arrest order for former Prime Minister Najib Razak. But a few hours after Yeoh’s denial, Najib’s house arrest was granted.
In the same highly suspense thriller movie – “Birds of a Feather Flock Together” – Anwar Ibrahim initially pretended to be surprised over a sudden move for a fresh clemency for Najib, only to spin that the house arrest – the first of its kind – for Najib does not undermine his government’s principle of taking firm action against all cases of corruption and abuse of power.
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The best part of the movie was when the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council led by Anwar shamelessly screamed that “no one is above the law” despite Najib’s special privilege. Hilariously, it also lectured that “anyone who is convicted of an offence must serve their sentence according to the law as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” while determined to continue efforts to combat corruption, and uphold the “Reformasi” (or rather “Reformati”) agenda.
For their stunning performances, drama king Anwar and drama queen Hannah have won the “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” respectively. The story, along with stunning flip-flopping, contradictory, treachery, and betrayal were incredibly mind-blowing that the Malaysian movie could give “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”, which overtakes “Star Wars: Force Awakens” as highest-grossing movie of all time, a run for its money.
The suspense saw moviegoers stop munching popcorns when two vehicles from the Prison Department visited the residence of Najib in preparation for the house arrest barely 24 hours later, only for Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution to admit that his ministry has yet to receive a formal order on the Pardon Board’s decision. Worse, he has no clue about the location for Najib’s house arrest.
Saifuddin, who failed to win any awards due to his incompetency, has added more fuel to the fire when he also admitted that the Cabinet had agreed only in principle for the government to draft a House Arrest Bill for tabling in Parliament. In the same context, Saifuddin actually revealed that Malaysia currently had no specific legislation governing the arrangement, which means Najib’s house arrest is absolutely “illegal”.
In a December 2025 High Court ruling that dismissed Najib’s judicial review application over an addendum order to allow him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence at home, Judge Alice Loke had said the house arrest order was not able to be executed under existing Malaysian law. No prisoner in Malaysia has previously been allowed to serve a sentence under house arrest. Najib’s case could open the floodgates.
But Anwar and Hannah were not the only winners. The film also won “Best Supporting Actor”, where Anthony Loke – popularly recognized for his comical role as the Number Plate Minister – had won the category in the 2026 Academy Awards. Hours after Najib’s house arrest was approved, DAP under Loke’s leadership said it will convene (again) an emergency central executive committee (CEC) meeting.
After three hours of meeting, the camera zoomed on Anthony Loke. Under the lame excuse of political stability, Ah Loke said – “After three hours, we decided that the best move was for me to offer to resign as the Transport Minister. It only involves me. As for the others, they will remain in the government.” Does that mean other DAP ministers, deputy ministers, and political appointees agree with Najib’s house arrest?
Sacrificing himself was a clever tactical and psychological move to scam some dumb DAP hardcore supporters that both Loke and DAP still have some principles, even though it was too little too late. It gives them the bragging space, the political narrative, and the cheap excuse that Anthony Loke was not power crazy, and DAP has not betrayed the trust of the Chinese voters.
But Loke’s reluctant resignation has raised a burning question – what happens to Perak DAP chairman Nga Kor Ming’s pledge to resign if UMNO secured a landslide victory in the Johor polls and Najib is freed? In order to cling to power, perhaps DAP spin doctors may argue till foaming at the mouth that Najib’s house arrest does not tantamount to being freed.
Defending his colleague Hannah’s role on the Pardons Board, Loke cracked an amazing joke when he said that Yeoh had consistently articulated the party’s core principles and discharged her constitutional duties candidly in the national interest. In comparison to Prime Minister Anwar, Loke is a rookie. But the Transport Minister is a fast learner in not only apple-polishing the PM, but also in hoodwinking the Chinese community.
Still, Anthony Loke Siew Fook was no match to Hannah Yeoh Tseow Suan. The drama queen praised – even prayed – that Anwar Ibrahim deserves a second term in Putrajaya to continue his work and reforms. When she was criticized by film critics, her blind supporters religiously – and blindly – defended her as the most “hardworking” minister. Indeed, she has been so hardworking that Najib is granted the house arrest.
In fact, had not movie producer replaced Zaliha Mustafa, who played the role as the (former) Federal Territories Minister in the first part – “Indecent Proposal” movie – that saw Najib’s 12-year jail sentence halved to 6 years and fines slashed by 75% to RM50 million from RM210 million, Hannah Yeoh would not have the opportunity to outshine her predecessor, and wins the Oscar.
Make no mistake – even though the house arrest was granted on the condition that Najib pays a RM50 million fine, which is peanut for the billionaire crook, the laughable condition was deliberately designed to reduce the negative impact on Anwar’s reputation and image as a (fake) reformist, as well as to appease angry voters before the next 16th General Election, which could be called any time soon.
The film also won the “Original Screenplay” award. Under the same pathetic Anwar government, Najib was first gifted with a reduced sentence courtesy of Zaliha, a PKR lawmaker, before being honoured with a house arrest thanks to Yeoh, a DAP lawmaker. Essentially, PM-obssessed Anwar had achieved what his predecessors – Mahathir, Muhyiddin and Sabri – failed to achieve.
In the same breath, hardcore loyalists of Anwar and Loke deserve congratulations for their undivided support, without which Najib may not be able to walk free from the Kajang Prison so soon. For almost four years since November 2022, the mantras – “If not Anwar, who else”, “If non-Malays do not support Anwar, the alternative is worse”, and “Anwar is the best among the worst” – were used to scam ethnic Chinese and Indians.
However, despite beingbetrayed,Anwar and Ah Loke fanatics are expected to remain loyal. No matter how ridiculous the political theatrics are staged, theycould not get enough of moviesproduced by PKR (People’s Justice Party) and DAP (Democratic Action Party). When new film-makers like Bersama entered the industry to provide options, the new player was quickly condemned as market spoiler.
Now that PKR president Anwar and DAP secretary-general Loke have again “facilitated” – either directly or indirectly – a house arrest for Najib to serve his remaining jail sentence in his luxury mansions, the same gullible loyalists should start celebrating, not complaining about the finale. After all, it was their blind support that has emboldened the PKR and DAP top leadership to kowtow to UMNO’s every demand.
They could cook fabulous excuses in defence of Anwar and Ah Loke by shifting the blame to the King, knowing very well that the monarch is untouchable. Pro-Anwar loyalists, bloggers, propagandists, cyber troopers, YouTubers, and TikTokers would argue that it was the King’s decision to approve Najib’s house arrest, therefore, PKR and DAP top leadership are innocent and should not be blamed.
A congratulation also ought to be extended to Malaysia’s Monarch, a powerful sultan from a southern state, for commuting Najib’s remaining jail term to house arrest in recognition of the ex-Premier’s past contributions to the country – especially in enriching Malaysia with a combined “RM51.4 billion debt”. His role in the script is important as a Malay Ruler cannot be questioned, let alone criticized.
Competing with the “Birds of a Feather Flock Together” was another film called “Pirates of Malaysia” produced by the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). While this movie failed to win “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” awards, it easily won the “Best Director” and “Best Picture” awards for persistently fighting for the release of “Bossku” Najib Razak, who happens to be a former UMNO president.
Cash to the tune of RM114 million seized in 2018 from Najib’s children posh apartments – Pavilion Residences – had already been returned to the former Prime Minister as early as 2021. However, UMNO, while celebrating the release of their corrupt leader, must pretend that it is struggling to raise money for Najib to scam its own gullible Malay supporters. That alone won them award in the “Film Editing” category.
Interestingly, Najib was the chief private funder of the Oscar-nominated 2013 hit “The Wolf of Wall Street” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. His stepson, Riza Aziz, co-founded the Hollywood production company Red Granite Pictures, which produced the Hollywood film using at least RM240 million misappropriated from Malaysia’s 1MDB state investment fund.
After “Indecent Proposal” and“Birds of a Feather Flock Together”, there could be a third part to the highly successful film. A new King may emerge to grant a third pardon for Najib’s ongoing 1MDB corruption charges. Anonymous sources say the third film – the final – could be called “The Lord of Corruption: The Return of The Crook”.
Although Najib may have got his wish for house arrest in this latest twist in the saga, there is still the High Court ruling in December 2025 to abide by. Najib had been sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison after being found guilty in his second major 1MDB trial. He was also fined RM11.4 billion, in default of which he would serve another 10 years in prison.
Still, the “Birds of a Feather Flock Together” has left some mysteries unsolved. Why Anwar and his sidekick DAP dramatically succumbed to UMNO’s pressure for Najib’s house arrest, barely a week after agreed to postpone it? At best, Anwar – a royal hand-kissing con artist – was pressured by the Monarch to strike a deal with UMNO to stop the corrupt party from withdrawing support for the Madani government.
At worst, 79-year-old Anwar, sensing a huge defeat in the upcoming 16th General Election, is buying an insurance in advance by appeasing UMNO with a grand gift. Hedging his bet with UMNO could help him escape prison again. In the eventuality of another hung parliament, Anwar and Loke hope – and fantasize – about another round of unity government with UMNO-led Barisan Nasional alliance.
