Shafee: Najib Never Sought Public Donations

Former prime minister Najib Razak cannot afford the RM50 million fine imposed as a condition for serving the remainder of his SRC International prison sentence under house arrest, his lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said. 

Shafee explained that Najib’s accounts remain frozen, including the Affin Bank account used during his tenure as prime minister and MP, leaving him without the financial means to settle the fine.

Najib Cannot Afford RM50M Fine

He stressed that the ex-PM has never sought public donations to cover the amount, though contributions have reportedly been raised. 

“He is in a dilemma because he is supposed to pay it, but he does not have the money,” Shafee told reporters after court proceedings.

Separately, Shafee revealed that Najib has yet to receive the official letter detailing the conditional pardon granted by the Yang di‑Pertuan Agong, which allows him to serve his sentence under house arrest until August 2028. 

Neither the ex-leader’s legal team nor the Prisons Department has received the document, eight days after the announcement.

Shafee said the delay is hampering the legal team’s next steps, as they remain uncertain about the full conditions of the pardon. He described the situation as “strange,” noting that clarity is essential for Najib’s legal strategy moving forward.