KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 18): The Democratic Action Party (DAP) said its central executive committee will be meeting on Saturday to discuss and decide on the party's stance and follow-up actions, after former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was allowed house arrest to serve out his remaining corruption sentence.
DAP is the largest single party in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government, holding 40 parliamentary seats.
In a statement on Friday, its secretary general Anthony Loke reaffirmed the party's respect for the King's constitutional power of pardon as provided under the Federal Constitution.
"DAP consistently upholds the principles of Constitutional Monarchy and the Supremacy of the Constitution, while defending the rule of law and the fight against corruption," Loke stressed.
The party also maintained that the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal was the largest corruption scandal in the country’s history, and that Najib’s conviction in the case was a matter decided by the courts.
DAP has been consistent in its stance on justice and accountability in the scandal, Loke said, including calling for a comprehensive investigation and for those responsible to face due legal process.
“We also have not forgotten that public anger over the 1MDB scandal was among the key factors that led to the change of government in the 14th General Election in 2018. The people's mandate to oppose corruption and abuse of power will continue to be DAP's guiding principle,” he said.
He also highlighted that the financial impact from the embezzlement at 1MDB — totalling RM51.4 billion according to Ministry of Finance figures — is still being borne by the nation and its people. Of the sum, RM42.5 million has been paid by the government, while a remaining debt balance of RM8.9 billion is yet to be paid, he noted.
He also defended Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, who sits on the Pardons Board, saying she had conveyed a position and views that are consistent with DAP’s principles while carrying out her responsibilities as a member of the board.
“As she has clarified, the views were conveyed honestly and candidly in the best interest of the nation,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, the government announced that Najib will be allowed to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. The decision came after the Pardons Board — chaired by the King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar — reconvened to consider his clemency bid, a week after the decision was deferred in the previous meeting last week.
Najib will be confined at an unspecified location until August 2028, according to a statement issued by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department following the Pardons Board's latest meeting. He will also have to pay a previously lessened fine of RM50 million.
Najib is in jail following his conviction for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
He was originally sentenced to 12 years in jail and a fine of RM210 million, before his jail term was halved by the Pardons Board in 2024 under the previous king, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, and his fine reduced to RM50 million.
In December 2025, he was sentenced to an additional 15 years and a fine of RM11.4 billion after being convicted of abuse of power and money laundering involving over RM2 billion in the 1MDB-Tanore case. He is currently appealing this conviction, while facing several other 1MDB-related cases.