Let Parliament inspect security arrangements at Najib’s house, says MP

 Lim Lip Eng says there is no reason to fear an inspection by the special select committee on security if everything is in order.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng asked who would replace the prison officers reassigned from their duties at Kajang prison to Najib Razak’s home. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

A backbencher has asked the home ministry to arrange an official visit by members of the special select committee on security to Najib Razak’s residence, which has been gazetted as a prison for his house arrest.

Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), a member of the committee, said the visit was to ensure the house arrest arrangements complied with stipulated procedures and safety requirements.

“If everything is in order, there is no reason to fear an inspection by Parliament,” he said today while debating the 2027 budget at the committee stage for the home ministry.

Lim’s suggestion comes after home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the security arrangements would incur no additional cost to the government, as personnel had been reassigned from their existing duties at Kajang prison to Najib’s home.

Saifuddin said the conditions for the former prime minister’s house arrest cover restrictions on his residence, association, movement, visits and the use of telecommunication devices. They also include mandatory participation in rehabilitation and intervention programmes.

He also said prisons department officers were stationed at the residence in three shifts, with three officers working each shift, alongside a continuous police presence.

However, Lim asked who would replace these officers at Kajang prison.

“Also, what are the travel costs and allowances, and how much does it cost to assign police personnel? What is the impact on normal prison operations?” the DAP MP asked.

Najib, 73, arrived at his home in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, on Tuesday night to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence in the SRC International case, having previously been in Kajang prison since Aug 23, 2022.

In January 2024, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, halved Najib’s 12-year prison sentence and reduced his RM210 million fine to RM50 million under a royal pardon.

In September 2026, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.

Umno subsequently paid the RM50 million fine using funds raised through a public crowdfunding exercise. - FMT