Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has expressed surprise and gratitude after supporters contributed to a solidarity fund launched to help him meet a RM50 million fine tied to his conditional pardon.
His daughter, Nooryana Najwa, said Najib was “touched” by the willingness of people to contribute and had not expected so many supporters to come forward. She stressed that contributions were voluntary and that her father did not want anyone to feel pressured to donate.
The Najib Razak Solidarity Fund was launched by United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) after Malaysia’s Pardons Board granted Najib a conditional pardon on Sept 18. The decision allows him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to the payment of the RM50 million fine and other conditions.
According to UMNO secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, the fund collected RM634,562 within its first three hours. By Sept 19, it had reached RM1 million, with reports saying some contributors gave amounts as small as RM10 and RM50.
Despite the fundraising effort, Najib had not yet returned home as of Sept 20. Nooryana said the fine must first be paid to the court, after which a receipt would be submitted to prison authorities before a release order for the house-arrest process can be issued.
Najib’s lawyers have also said that some of his assets, bank accounts and properties remain subject to government freezing orders and enforcement proceedings, affecting his ability to make the payment himself.
Najib has been imprisoned since August 2022 after Malaysia’s highest court upheld his conviction in the SRC International case, which involved RM42 million channelled into his personal bank accounts. He was originally sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million. In January 2024, the Pardons Board reduced his prison term to six years and lowered the fine to RM50 million.
The fundraising effort has also generated mixed reactions in Malaysia, with some questioning whether public donations should be used to help pay the former prime minister’s fine. The fund’s organisers have said the contributions are voluntary and that the initiative will comply with applicable laws and regulations.
For now, the key question is whether the RM50 million requirement can be fulfilled and what that will mean for the next stage of Najib’s conditional house-arrest arrangement.
