Najib Is Back Home, But What Can He Actually Do Under House Arrest?

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Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is back at his Jalan Langgak Duta residence in Kuala Lumpur, but does serving his prison sentence at home mean he is free to go about his daily life as he pleases?

The 73-year-old remains under the control and supervision of prison authorities, with strict conditions governing who he can meet, how he communicates with others, and what activities he can participate in.

According to information obtained by the New Straits Times, even a single breach of the house arrest conditions could result in Najib being sent back to Kajang Prison or another prison designated by the Prisons Department's commissioner-general.

Here is what Najib can and cannot do while serving the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest at his private RM20 million bungalow.

He cannot participate in politics or make public statements

Najib is prohibited from participating in political activities while under house arrest. This means he cannot organise or take part in political events, gatherings, or other activities, whether at his residence or elsewhere.

He is also barred from making media statements or deliberately exposing himself to media coverage.

He cannot receive visitors without written permission

Although Najib is staying at his own residence, he cannot freely invite people over. Anyone wishing to visit him must obtain prior written approval from the relevant prison authorities.

He is also prohibited from organising gatherings or events at the property, meaning the residence cannot be used as a venue for meetings or social functions.

The restrictions also extend to overnight stays, with anyone other than permitted family members requiring approval from the commissioner-general to stay at the property.

His wife and children are reportedly not living with him

One of the more unusual aspects of Najib's house arrest arrangement concerns his family.

In a Threads reply on 10 November, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, the eldest daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, and their children would not be living with him at the Jalan Langgak Duta residence.

She explained that the property had been "gazetted as a prison", meaning family visits would follow designated visiting hours, similar to those at a conventional prison.

"His wife and children are not living with him. Rosmah is staying at Pavilion. Even if they want to visit, there are designated visiting hours just like for people in prison," she said.

Nurulhidayah also said prison authorities would determine the food and drinks provided to Najib.

Her explanation differs from what Najib's lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, previously told reporters, when he said Najib would be allowed to stay with his family during house arrest.

However, in the Dewan Rakyat today, 12 November, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail clarified that Najib is allowed to live with his immediate family, including his wife, children, sons- and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.

His phone and social media use are restricted, but his Facebook page remains active

Najib is understood to face restrictions on his use of phones and other communication devices. He can only use devices registered with the Prisons Department, which are intended solely for communicating with and reporting to his appointed house arrest officer.

He must also respond when contacted by the officer through periodic telephone calls.

His social media activity is also reportedly restricted, with the conditions prohibiting him from making public appearances or exposing himself to social media coverage without permission.

However, there is an interesting detail worth noting: Najib's Facebook page has continued to publish content even while he was serving his sentence at the Kajang Prison.

For instance, on 10 November, his page shared a photograph of him walking out of the Kuala Lumpur High Court following the proceedings that cleared the way for his house arrest.

The photograph was accompanied by the caption "Alhamdulillah", with the post garnering nearly 100,000 likes and 10,000 comments.

Just three days earlier, on 7 November, his page also shared two photographs of him interacting with members of the public during a Deepavali open house in 2011.

These are just two examples of content being published on his Facebook page while he was still physically behind bars.

While the posts do not establish whether Najib personally uploaded them, they raise a question about how the reported social media restrictions will be enforced now that he is serving his sentence at home.

After all, his lead counsel Muhammad Shafee had previously said that Najib was not supposed to use Facebook or host podcasts while under house arrest unless he obtained permission from the authorities.

He cannot leave his house whenever he wants

Najib is required to remain within his Jalan Langgak Duta residence throughout his house arrest. However, there is a provision for him to apply for permission to leave when necessary.

According to the New Straits Times, if circumstances reasonably prevent him from submitting a written application, he may make an oral request instead.

The commissioner-general must then record the application and the decision in writing. He may also impose additional conditions when granting permission, depending on the circumstances.

He must follow prison authorities' instructions

Throughout his house arrest, Najib remains subject to the supervision and control of prison authorities. He is required to maintain good behaviour, refrain from misconduct, obey all applicable laws, and avoid committing any criminal offence.

Failure to comply with the conditions could result in Najib being recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence there.

Najib will remain under house arrest until August 2028

Najib began serving his original 12-year prison sentence on 23 August 2022, after the Federal Court dismissed his final appeal against his conviction in the SRC International case.

On 29 January 2024, his sentence was reduced to six years, while his RM210 million fine was lowered to RM50 million following a royal pardon.

He subsequently received a second conditional pardon on 18 September 2026, allowing him to serve the remainder of his SRC International sentence under house arrest.

After the RM50 million fine was paid on 6 November, the High Court issued a fresh order on 10 November allowing the arrangement to take effect immediately.

Najib will remain at his Jalan Langgak Duta residence until 23 August 2028, after which he is scheduled to begin serving his separate 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) prison sentence.