Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was deeply moved by the public’s response to a fundraiser aimed at paying his RM50 million fine, his daughter Nooryana Najwa said on Sunday (20 September).
In a Facebook post, Nooryana said she and other family members visited Najib at Kajang Prison on Saturday (19 September) and found him surprised by the scale of support behind the Datuk Seri Najib Solidarity Fund.
“Daddy really did not expect so many people to be willing to contribute. He was really touched to see how many people were willing to contribute,” she wrote, as quoted by Scoop.
UMNO launched the solidarity fund on 18 September, a day after Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim granted Najib a conditional pardon over his SRC International conviction. Within the first three hours, the fund collected RM634,000, climbing to RM1 million within 24 hours, The Star reported. UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki confirmed the figure.
Nooryana, who serves as UMNO Puteri information chief, stressed that all contributions were voluntary. “Our family is deeply touched by UMNO’s efforts in leading this Solidarity Fund. DSN never wanted to burden the party or the people. Every contribution is entirely voluntary and based on each person’s ability, there is no pressure or obligation for anyone to contribute,” she said.
She also thanked Malaysians who had enquired about Najib and the family’s wellbeing. “May Allah repay each of you for your prayers and kindness,” she added.
The conditional pardon, decided during the 64th meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board at Istana Negara, allows Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until 23 August 2028. However, the fine must be settled first. Until then, Najib remains at Kajang Prison.
“For now, no. The Pardons Board’s decision stipulates that the house arrest is subject to the payment of the RM50 million fine first. Our family fully respects the decision,” Nooryana said. She explained that once the fine is paid to the court, a payment receipt would be submitted to prison authorities, who would then issue a release order for the house arrest process to begin.
Najib’s lawyers from Messrs Shafee and Co said a substantial portion of his assets, bank accounts and properties remained subject to freezing orders and enforcement proceedings by the government, and their disposal was not currently under his sole control.
“Meanwhile, and until the fine is paid to the court, our client remains at Kajang Prison,” the firm said, as quoted by Scoop.
The fundraising effort has drawn contributions from beyond Malaysia’s borders. Najib’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, said individuals from Brunei, Italy, Singapore and Canada had chipped in, a development she said helped her identify her “real friends.”
Nooryana said the family would channel all payments through official channels if the RM50 million target was met. “Yana understands that the fine must first be paid to the court. The court will then issue a payment receipt, and that receipt will be submitted to the prison authorities.”
If Najib fails to meet the conditions of the pardon, he risks being sent back to Kajang Prison. Najib was convicted of misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd and initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million. The sentence was reduced by the Pardons Board in early 2024.
