M Santhananaban
The 18 February announcement of Najib Razak’s possible release to serve the balance of his prison sentence under ‘house arrest’ is a novelty.
That release is subject to the prior payment of a reduced fine of RM50 (from the court-imposed RM210m fine). But it is still rather unusual and puts us in unexplored territory.
Najib was taken to serve his prison sentence on 23 August 2022. Now, after four years of incarceration, he can look forward to serving the balance of his sentence in a home environment. Its exact conditions remain unspecified.
Of course, it would mean a lot to this 73-year-old man who had a charmed, classy and comfortable life until late August 2022. Confinement to a comfortable home under house arrest may prove agreeable. It could be a great relief after the rigours of a regimented life in a prison.
Prisons, by their very restrictive nature, are not meant to provide country-club living. There is not supposed to be fine food, select company, music, a good library or other home comforts. The assumption is that the RM50m payment will be made for this release from prison custody.
For most people in Malaysia, this special consideration extended to an obviously wealthy convicted criminal is a puzzle. It is somewhat contradictory to long-accepted norms that penalties imposed in a court of law have to be respected.
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It is clear that the conditional pardon granted to Najib has become a controversial issue. This concern will not go away.
It is obviously within the discretion of the Agong to extend this qualified act of clemency.
On Najib’s part, he must show he is worthy of such special consideration. He has to go through all his other cases and claims before he can enjoy a normal life. Will that day come?
For a start, he should admit his wrongdoing.
Dr M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with over 45 years of public sector experience.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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