Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu has called for legislation allowing convicted prisoners to serve half of their jail sentences under house arrest, saying justice must not be the exclusive right of certain groups.
He also offered to donate his entire ministerial salary for the remainder of the current parliamentary term to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) campaigning for the proposed legislation.
Mohamad, who is also Kota Raja MP and Amanah president, said his position was not motivated by any personal grievance against former prime minister Najib Razak.
‘The principle of equality before the law must not be compromised on the basis of position, political influence or family ties. The law must be fair to all. Malaysia cannot practise a two-tiered justice system,’ he said in a statement.
Najib granted house arrest order
The High Court yesterday issued an order allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International case under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.
Najib was jailed in August 2022 after the Federal Court upheld his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million in SRC International funds.
He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment and fined RM210 million.
In January 2024, then Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah halved his prison sentence and reduced the fine to RM50 million as part of a royal pardon.
Mohamad stresses equality before the law
In September this year, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
The arrangement was subject to payment of a RM50 million fine and compliance with other stipulated conditions.
