Is Najib Razak free? Not quite. Malaysia's former prime minister left Kajang Prison on Tuesday 10 November and arrived at his home in Kuala Lumpur's Taman Duta at about 9.30pm, where he will serve the rest of his SRC International sentence under house arrest until 23 August 2028, CNA reported. The same day, Transport Minister Anthony Loke's resignation from the Cabinet took effect, in protest at the arrangement.
The move ends a week long standoff between the national palace and the Attorney General's Chambers over how to carry out a royal decree, and it lands four days before voters in Melaka go to the polls. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim responded with a pointed religious quotation about unequal punishment for the powerful, while UMNO leaders called for the matter to be closed.
How Najib got from Kajang to Taman Duta
Najib, 73, has been in prison since August 2022, when the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International, a former unit of 1MDB. His original 12 year term and RM210 million fine were halved to six years and RM50 million by the Pardons Board in January 2024. In September this year, Sultan Ibrahim granted a further conditional pardon allowing him to serve the rest of that term at home, provided the fine was paid.
UMNO said it paid the RM50 million fine on 6 November after a crowdfunding campaign by Najib's supporters. That day the High Court issued a discharge order on payment of the fine, Najib briefly left prison and was then returned. The Attorney General's Chambers questioned the terminology and legal provisions in the order, saying the key issue was whether "discharge" meant his first sentence was complete, which would decide when his second sentence begins.
On 10 November Justice Aslam Zainuddin annulled the earlier order and replaced it. "In line with the conditional pardon, the accused is to serve the remainder of his reduced six year jail term under house arrest at 11, Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur until Aug 23, 2028," he said, according to Free Malaysia Today. Najib posted a one word message on Facebook: "Alhamdulillah".
The palace versus the Attorney General
The episode produced a rare public clash. After Najib was returned to prison on 6 November, the palace issued a rebuke, with Sultan Ibrahim stating that the power to pardon is a royal prerogative under Article 42 of the Federal Constitution and that "any argument disputing the order would amount to defying the command" of the King. The Attorney General's Chambers replied that it was not disputing or defying the pardon and called allegations of insult or treason baseless.
UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said everyone should now "close the book" and respect the King's prerogative. Najib's lawyer, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, called the new order "a final relief", though he said he did not yet know the conditions, including whether family members may live with Najib, and believed visitors would need permission.
The legal questions are not over. The house arrest covers only the reduced six year sentence from the first trial. In December 2025, Najib was sentenced to 15 years for corruption and money laundering in a second major 1MDB trial, and he is appealing that verdict. How and when that sentence would be served remains a live issue for the courts.
The Najib case has become a test of who decides what justice looks like in Malaysia: the courts, the palace or the voters of Melaka on Saturday.
Why Anthony Loke resigned
Loke Siew Fook, the DAP secretary general known as Anthony Loke, announced in September that he would quit as transport minister after Najib's conditional pardon, but agreed at Anwar's request to stay until the house arrest began. His resignation took effect on 10 November. He thanked Anwar for entrusting him with the ministry since December 2022 and promised a smooth handover.
Reaction cut across the coalition. Zahid called Loke "a man of principle" who sat to his right in Cabinet. Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, DAP's deputy secretary general, said "it should have been me", explaining that Loke wanted the party's other ministers to finish their work, "and so he paid the price himself". Loke has since dared Barisan Nasional to leave the government if it is unhappy, and urged Melaka voters to use their ballots to express their views on Najib.
Anwar did not mention Najib by name. Hours after the court order he posted a hadith warning that past nations were destroyed because the powerful were let off while the weak were punished, according to Free Malaysia Today. The post was widely read as a message to his own supporters that he disapproves of the outcome.
What it means for Saturday's Melaka election
Melaka's 687,697 voters choose 28 state seats on Saturday 14 November. In 2021, Barisan Nasional won 21 seats, Pakatan Harapan five and Perikatan Nasional two. This time Pakatan Harapan is contesting 24 seats and Barisan Nasional 23, while early voters, mostly soldiers, police and their spouses, turned out at almost 95 percent. Analysts quoted by Free Malaysia Today expect the Najib row to raise turnout on both sides:
- Pakatan Harapan supporters may vote to signal disapproval of the house arrest
- UMNO loyalists, especially older Malay voters, may rally behind Najib
- urban, younger and non Malay voters may see the arrangement as an unwarranted privilege
- local issues such as living costs and development risk being drowned out
The result will be read nationally. A strong showing for Barisan Nasional would be taken as proof that Najib still commands loyalty, while gains for Pakatan Harapan would suggest that Anwar's coalition partners can absorb the controversy. Either way, Loke's exit leaves the unity government with an open Cabinet seat and a reminder of its internal tensions.
For investors, the immediate economic impact is limited, but political stability has been central to Malaysia's pitch as a home for data centres and manufacturing, including the new SoftBank and Grab plan for Malaysian AI infrastructure. A visible split inside the coalition would test that message.
Has Najib Razak been released from prison?
He left Kajang Prison on 10 November 2026 but remains a prisoner, serving the rest of his sentence under house arrest at his Taman Duta home in Kuala Lumpur.
How long will Najib be under house arrest?
Until 23 August 2028, according to the High Court order.
Why is Najib under house arrest?
Sultan Ibrahim granted him a conditional pardon in September 2026 allowing him to serve the rest of his reduced SRC sentence at home once his fine was paid.
Who paid Najib's RM50 million fine?
UMNO said it paid the fine on 6 November after a crowdfunding campaign by his supporters.
What was Najib convicted of?
Abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million from SRC International, a former 1MDB unit.
Why did the Attorney General challenge the order?
It questioned the wording and legal basis of the 6 November discharge order, which could have affected when Najib's second sentence begins.
Does the house arrest cover Najib's second sentence?
No. He was sentenced to 15 years in December 2025 in a second 1MDB trial and is appealing.
Why did Anthony Loke resign?
He pledged in September to quit as transport minister in protest at Najib's conditional pardon. The resignation took effect when the house arrest began.
Who will replace Anthony Loke?
No successor had been named at the time of writing.
What did Anwar Ibrahim say?
He posted a hadith warning against letting the powerful escape punishment while the weak are punished, without naming Najib.
What did the King say?
Sultan Ibrahim said pardons are a royal prerogative under Article 42 of the constitution and that disputing the order amounted to defying the King.
Can visitors see Najib at home?
His lawyer believes visitors will need to apply for permission, but said the conditions had not been shared with him.
When is the Melaka state election?
Saturday 14 November 2026, with 687,697 voters electing 28 seats.
Who won Melaka in 2021?
Barisan Nasional won 21 of 28 seats, Pakatan Harapan five and Perikatan Nasional two.
Will the Najib case affect the Melaka result?
Analysts expect it to raise turnout among both Najib's supporters and his critics.
Where is Najib serving his house arrest?
At his home at 11 Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur, according to the High Court order.
Najib's move from Kajang to Taman Duta settles the immediate legal dispute but not the politics. A royal prerogative, a reluctant government and a resigning minister now meet in a state election on Saturday, and whatever Melaka decides will be read as a verdict on how Malaysia handles its most famous prisoner.
Talk to the SpinDepth deskYou've finished this story
Read on, send it to someone, or ask about it.
