Kuala Lumpur: The Prisons Department has never received any directive from the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya Pardons Board to allow Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, stated Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He clarified that the only communication received was regarding a reduction in Najib’s sentence and fine.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Saifuddin emphasized that on February 2 last year, the Prisons Department only received meeting minutes and an order to implement the decision made by the board during its meeting on January 29, 2024. The directive, signed by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and witnessed by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr. Zaliha Mustafa, instructed the Prisons Department to reduce Najib’s prison sentence to August 23, 2028, and cut his fine to RM50 million.

Saifuddin further explained that the order stipulated that if the fine is not paid, the former prime minister’s prison sentence would be extended by another year, making his release date August 23, 2029. He asserted that the letter received by the Prisons Department did not mention house arrest and emphasized the department’s commitment to integrity in executing the order.

He reiterated the importance of clarifying that the Home Ministry (KDN) and the Prisons Department have not concealed any decision made by the Pardons Board or failed to comply with it. “We only act based on authentic and official directives, as received,” he stated during a special press conference.

Saifuddin also confirmed that the minutes of the Pardons Board meeting received by his ministry contained no directive or information regarding house arrest. “With this clarification, I hope to make it clear that the Home Ministry has fully carried out Tuanku’s (Al-Sultan Abdullah’s) directive as ordered through the official directive of the Pardons Board. Any claims to the contrary are untrue,” he added.

The issue arose as the Court of Appeal, in a 2-1 majority decision, remitted the case concerning Najib’s claim about the existence of a Royal Addendum to the High Court for a hearing on its merits. Najib, 71, was appealing the decision of the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 3 last year, which rejected his application for leave to initiate a judicial review of the Royal Addendum, purportedly issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.