Malaysia to deploy mobile police station as Najib’s possible house arrest remains under official review

Malaysian police will deploy a mobile police station near former prime minister Najib Razak’s official residence in Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur, from 21 September 2026.

The deployment is intended to support security arrangements if Najib is transferred from Kajang Prison to the residence under a conditional house-arrest arrangement.

Sentul district police chief ACP Anuar Bakri Abdul Salam said the mobile station would begin operating at 7am on 21 September.

“The mobile police station is not for the purpose of providing 24-hour security for Datuk Seri Najib,” Anuar said, according to Bernama.

He said the deployment would instead support Najib’s return process, protect local and foreign media and nearby residents, and help prevent traffic congestion and gatherings of supporters.

Police have not confirmed the residence

Anuar said police had not received official confirmation that the Langgak Duta property would be the location of Najib’s house arrest.

“I cannot confirm it because I have not received any information either,” he said.

He added that the residence falls under his police district and that other properties belonging to Najib could also be considered.

Four officers from the Malaysian Prisons Department inspected the residence on 19 September, according to Anuar.

The Prisons Department, rather than the Royal Malaysia Police, is expected to oversee Najib if he serves the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Police would facilitate Najib’s movement and provide security for the media. The planned deployment is expected to involve one supervisor, two personnel and a mobile patrol vehicle.

House arrest remains subject to conditions

Najib remains at Kajang Prison while the conditions attached to the conditional pardon are being addressed.

His lawyers said on 20 September that he was working to meet the conditions, including payment of a RM50 million fine, approximately US$12.26 million.

The lawyers said a significant part of Najib’s assets, bank accounts and properties remained subject to government freezing orders and enforcement proceedings.

The Prisons Department and Home Affairs Ministry have also been waiting for official written confirmation of the pardon before taking action.

Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said procedures for the proposed house arrest would cover visits, security and monitoring of Najib’s movements once the relevant official letter was received.

The Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department said the conditional pardon was decided at the 64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

The King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, consented on 18 September to allow Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until 23 August 2028, subject to the conditions imposed.

Background to Najib’s sentence

Najib, 73, has been imprisoned at Kajang Prison since 23 August 2022 following his conviction in the SRC International case.

He was originally sentenced in July 2020 to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million after being convicted of three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of abuse of power.

The case concerned RM42 million transferred from SRC International, a former subsidiary of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), into Najib’s personal bank accounts in 2014 and 2015.

A royal pardon in January 2024 reduced his prison sentence to six years and his fine to RM50 million. His scheduled release date under that reduced sentence was 23 August 2028.

Najib later argued that a previous king had issued an additional order allowing him to serve his sentence under house arrest.

The High Court ruled that the alleged addendum was not enforceable because it had not been considered at the January 2024 Pardons Board meeting. Najib withdrew his appeal against that ruling in April 2026, with no reason given in the court documents reported by Malaysian media.

Political disagreement over the decision

The house-arrest decision has created disagreement within Malaysia’s governing coalition.

Anthony Loke, secretary-general of the Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Transport Minister, has offered to resign in protest against the decision.

Loke said DAP would remain in the government and continue supporting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition until a general election is called.

“We feel (the house arrest) is difficult to accept, not just by DAP but many Malaysians,” Loke said.

Anwar said on 20 September that Najib had the right to seek a pardon but rejected claims that he had paved the way for it.

“When people say that I was the one who paved the way [for that pardon], that is not true,” Anwar said.

He said every prisoner had the right to submit an appeal for consideration by the Pardons Board, which is chaired by the King.

Anwar also said he had reminded the board about Najib’s ongoing court cases, the size of the fine and the possible impact on public confidence and international perceptions.

Other legal proceedings remain

The conditional pardon applies to Najib’s sentence in the SRC International case and does not end his other legal proceedings.

In December 2025, the High Court sentenced him to 15 years in prison and imposed a RM11.4 billion fine after convicting him on 25 charges involving abuse of power and money laundering linked to about RM2.3 billion from 1MDB.

Najib has appealed against that conviction and sentence.

The 15-year sentence was due to begin in 2028 after completion of his existing sentence.