KUALA LUMPUR - Barisan Nasional (BN) Members of Parliament Secretariat has called for an independent review of the handling of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's house arrest case following a four-day delay in its implementation, despite the RM50 million fine having been paid in full.
Its chairman, Manndzri Nasib, said the implementation of the court's decision did not remove the Attorney General's responsibility to explain the delay.
"The implementation of house arrest does not in any way remove the need for accountability over the delay from Nov 6 to 10, 2026, after the RM50 million fine had been paid in full and the Order of Discharge had been issued by the court.
"Why was the implementation previously delayed on grounds of ambiguity and legal implications, but can now proceed? What were the actual obstacles at the time and what document corrections resolved them?" he said during a press conference at the Parliament building on Wednesday.
Najib was transferred from Kajang Prison to his residence at Jalan Langgak Duta on Tuesday night to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028.
High Court judge Datuk Aslam Zainuddin had earlier set aside the Order of Discharge dated Nov 6 and replaced it with a new order allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest with immediate effect.
In September, Sultan Ibrahim granted Najib a conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, subject to the payment of a RM50 million fine and other conditions.
Manndzri, who is also Tenggara MP, said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) needed to explain why document corrections or the issuance of a new warrant, if necessary, were not pursued earlier after the problem had been identified.
He said the Home Ministry had issued a Federal Government Gazette under the Prisons Act 1995, designating the residence in Langgak Duta as a lawful place of detention.
"The public has the right to know what changed, when the problem was identified and why it took until November 10 to resolve it.
"If the government gazette and court order were already in place on Nov 6, on what grounds did the Attorney General act unilaterally to direct that Najib remain at Kajang Prison?" he asked.
He said the AGC also needed to explain the legal basis for keeping Najib at Kajang Prison throughout the delay.
Manndzri added that the secretariat also questioned whether issues involving the interpretation and legal implications of implementing house arrest had been raised during the Pardons Board's deliberations on September 18.
"Therefore, the secretariat maintains its call for appropriate steps to be taken through lawful processes to place the Attorney General on temporary leave while an independent assessment body conducts a comprehensive review of the handling of this case.
"The implementation of house arrest does not erase the delay. A resolution does not remove accountability. The Attorney General must answer why the delay occurred and who was responsible," he said.