Umno to launch fund to help Najib settle RM50mil fine

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party welcomed the development with gratitude, describing it as meaningful to former prime minister Najib Razak, his family and Umno members who had continued to hope and pray for him. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Umno will launch a fund to help former prime minister Najib Razak settle the RM50 million fine imposed on him, following the decision to grant him a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, subject to payment of the fine.Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called on all party leaders, members and supporters to contribute to the fund."Umno calls on its leaders, members and supporters, as well as those who wish to join in showing their support, to contribute voluntarily through an initiative that will be carried out transparently and systematically, and in compliance with all applicable rules and laws," he said in a Facebook post today.The legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department said Najib had been granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of the RM50 million fine.The division said the conditional pardon was granted by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim following the 64th meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) today.Najib, 73, has been serving a reduced six-year sentence at Kajang prison since the FTPB halved his original 12-year sentence in February 2024. The initial RM210 million fine was also reduced to RM50 million.Zahid said Umno welcomed the development with gratitude, describing it as meaningful to Najib, his family and party members who had continued to hope and pray for him.He also expressed the party’s appreciation to Sultan Ibrahim for the decision.

Former prime minister Najib Razak was imprisoned in August 2022 after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has been granted a conditional pardon allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of a RM50 million fine.The legal affairs division of the Prime Minister's Department said the conditional pardon was granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, following the 64th meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) today."Najib must comply with all the conditions imposed. If he breaches any of them, the conditional pardon will be revoked and he must immediately return to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence," it said in a statement.The statement did not specify the conditions imposed on Najib.Najib, 73, has been serving a reduced six-year prison sentence at Kajang prison after the FTPB halved his original 12-year sentence in February 2024. The initial RM210 million fine was also reduced to RM50 million.He was imprisoned in August 2022 after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case.In December 2025, Najib was convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving more than RM2 billion linked to 1MDB.

He was sentenced to 15 years’ jail and fined RM11.38 billion. He is appealing the conviction.Shortly after the FTPB announced the partial pardon two years ago, a controversy erupted over the validity of an addendum order issued by then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.Najib claimed the addendum allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.The government initially disputed its existence and legality, leading Najib to file for judicial review in an attempt to enforce the king’s decree. The document was later verified as authentic by the Pahang palace.In December last year, the High Court dismissed Najib’s judicial review application, ruling that the addendum had not been deliberated and decided on at the pardons board meeting held on Jan 29, 2024, and did not comply with Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.Najib appealed the decision but withdrew his appeal earlier this year.He then submitted a fresh pardon petition which was considered at the FTPB meeting on Sept 11, but the …