Even unfrozen assets won’t immediately cover Najib’s RM50m house-arrest fine, says son
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Even if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s frozen assets were released, his family would still be unable to immediately raise the RM50 million fine required for him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, his eldest son has said.
Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib said the family was still working to raise the money, with Najib’s ability to pay depending partly on how much could be collected through contributions, Malaysiakini reported today.
“If his assets were not frozen, that might help somewhat in raising the money. But the reality is that we still have much to do before we reach that amount,” Nizar was quoted as saying.
“Whether my father can afford to pay it depends on how much is collected. The stipulated amount must be paid before he can obtain a house arrest order, and that is what we are working towards.”
Nizar, the Peramu Jaya assemblyman, was speaking at a Pekan Umno press conference in Pahang last night.
His remarks come a day after Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the former prime minister did not have enough personal funds to pay the RM50 million and was uncomfortable with members of the public raising the money for him.
Shafee also said Najib’s bank accounts had been frozen.
Najib, 73, is serving a prison sentence in the SRC International case. His original 12-year term and RM210 million fine were previously reduced to six years and RM50 million.
On September 18, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon, following a meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028, provided he pays the RM50 million fine.
Nizar also defended Umno’s fundraising campaign for his father.
“Some people don’t like it, but whatever the circumstances, we should be grateful.
“It turns out that many Malaysians still care for my father and feel moved to help,” he said.
He said Umno had launched the campaign on its own initiative and that the family had not requested it, adding that contributors came from different backgrounds.
Pekan Umno chief Fakhruddin Ariff said the division had so far raised more than RM26,000 for Najib.
“This amount was raised in less than a week, and I am confident it will grow over time,” he said.
