Malaysia
Anwar defends Najib’s eased jail conditions, says no need to put him through ‘hell’
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim defended easing prison conditions for ex-PM Najib Razak, jailed for the 1MDB scandal. Speaking to Financial Times, Anwar said he opposes corruption but does not want Najib to endure harsh treatment similar to his own during past imprisonment. Najib’s sentence was halved in 2024, sparking public controversy.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has publicly defended the decision to ease prison conditions for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is serving time for his role in the multibillion-dollar 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Speaking to the Financial Times (FT), Anwar emphasised that while he does not condone corruption, he does not wish for Najib to face the same harsh treatment he endured during his own incarceration.
“I went through that hell also, and solitary confinement. I wasn’t given any food outside except for the prison food,” Anwar told FT, referencing his imprisonment in the 1990s under Mahathir Mohamad’s administration.
“But do I need then to treat Najib in the same manner? I say no, I mean, he was prime minister.”
Najib, 71, was convicted in 2020 on charges of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power, and money laundering involving RM42 million (approximately US$11.73 billion) misappropriated from SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
Despite his 12-year prison sentence and a RM210 million fine initially upheld by Malaysia’s Court of Appeal and Federal Court, Najib’s sentence was halved in February 2024 following a royal pardon, reducing his prison term to six years and his fine to RM50 million.
Consequently, this adjustment implies an earlier potential release date of 23 August 2028.
Najib is currently serving his sentence but is pursuing legal avenues for leniency.
On 6 January 2025, Malaysia’s Court of Appeal allowed Najib to access a royal decree that purportedly grants him the right to serve his sentence under house arrest.
This decree, allegedly an addendum issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, has sparked public outrage amid concerns over perceived preferential treatment.
Anwar acknowledged the controversy surrounding Najib’s eased conditions but reiterated that he does not hold the authority to forgive corruption.
“I was assaulted and near death. I’ve forgiven, I want to move on,” Anwar said.
“But steal from the public purse — billions — [and] I’ve no authority to forgive you. You give back the funds.”
Najib continues to face several 1MDB-related corruption trials, including accusations of obtaining RM2.28 billion in gratification and laundering the same amount.
The United States Department of Justice estimates that US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, with over US$1 billion allegedly channelled into accounts linked to Najib.
The royal pardon, alongside Najib’s alleged house arrest arrangement, has reignited scrutiny over Malaysia’s handling of high-profile corruption cases.
Critics argue that leniency for Najib risks undermining public confidence in the judicial system, especially given the global scale of the 1MDB fraud, often described as one of history’s largest financial scandals.
On 30 October 2024, Najib was ordered to enter his defence on four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering related to RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds. His legal battles continue despite his earlier conviction and ongoing sentence.

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