Facing backlash over Najib's homecoming, Mat Sabu calls for laws to allow convicts serve half of jail term from home

Cabinet minister and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu has called for a movement to push for legislation allowing all prisoners to serve half their sentences in prison and the remaining half under house detention, similar to the arrangement recently granted to former prime minister Najib Razak under a royal pardon that was mired in controversy.

“This is my own idea. I am making this appeal so that we can establish a law that ensures justice for everyone,” said the agriculture and food security minister.

Under his proposed arrangement, prisoners convicted for all categories of offences would be allowed to serve half of their prison term under house detention.

He said it should apply regardless of the offences they committed, and be governed by rules that are transparent and equally enforced.

“I have nothing personal with Najib Razak or his family. But justice in this country must be upheld equally, regardless of a person's position, rank or political influence,” Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, told a press conference today.

As a show of commitment, he pledged to donate his entire monthly ministerial salary of RM11,900 up to Parliament's dissolution to fund NGOs that can drive the campaign to build support for such legislation, including through public forums, seminars, gatherings and other activities.

“I am not a rich person, but I can contribute what I have. My ministerial salary is RM11,900, and I will give 100% of it every month until Parliament is dissolved to any NGO that I choose to support in driving this campaign,” he said, adding that groups such as Bersih, the Malaysian Bar and the Syariah Lawyers Association could spearhead efforts to establish the proposed legal framework.

Mat Sabu invoked Islam's emphasis on equality before the law, and quoted from a hadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) in which the Prophet vowed that even his own daughter Fatimah would not be exempted from punishment if she committed theft.

“This principle conveys a profound lesson: no one shall be granted special treatment or exempted from the law solely on the basis of their position or family connections,” he added.

Mat Sabu's statement comes as Najib begins serving the remainder of his reduced prison sentence under house arrest at his plush mansion in Taman Duta, Kuala Lumpur.

The transfer followed a Kuala Lumpur High Court order allowing him to serve the remaining six-year sentence in the SRC International case under house detention until August 2028, after which he is required to return to Kajang Prison to begin serving a separate sentence in the 1MDB case.

On Sept 18, Najib was granted a conditional pardon by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, following a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board which was also attended by DAP's Hannah Yeoh.

The decision allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence at home, subject to paying a RM50 million fine and complying with the stipulated conditions.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years' jail and fined RM210 million over 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 began serving the term in 2022 after failing in his final appeal at the Federal Court.

In early 2024, the Federal Territories Pardons Board, whose members included Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, reduced Najib's 12-year jail term to six years and lowered his RM240 million fine to RM50 million.

It was later revealed that, just before stepping down as the 16th Agong, Pahang's Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had added notes to the pardons decision, calling for Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Since then, Anwar and other government leaders have repeatedly brushed aside claims about the existence of the addendum, and said the matter would only be decided by the court.

Among others, Anwar said the addendum was not addressed because Sultan Abdullah had been replaced.