Anwar welcomes Najib’s 1MDB apology

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim welcomes Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s apology over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

“Terima baik (well-received),” said the Prime Minister briefly when asked about the former premier’s apology by reporters after Friday prayers at Surau Ar-Rahman at Presint 16 in Putrajaya on Friday (Oct 25).

On Thursday (Oct 24), Najib apologised to all Malaysians over the 1MDB scandal which took place when he was prime minister and finance minister.

In a statement read out by his son Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex, Najib said he decided to issue it after much reflection during his 26 months in jail following significant recent developments relating to 1MDB.

Najib expressed “deep shock” over the extent of the multi-billion ringgit scandal but maintained that recent evidence supported his claim that he did not collaborate with fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.

There have been mixed responses towards Najib’s apology, with Pejuang’s Rafique Rashid questioning whether it was a genuine act of remorse or an attempt to gain leniency.

Earlier, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had said Najib’s apology was sincere and he was confident that Najib’s remarks reflected good intentions when he was prime minister, of which others took advantage.

“Najib always thought about what was best for the people, to the extent that some irresponsible parties took advantage of his concern for the people’s welfare,” Wan Rosdy had said in a statement late Thursday (Oct 24) night.

Najib is currently serving a reduced sentence after on Feb 2, the Federal Territories Pardons Board halved his 12-year jail term to six years and reduced his fine from RM210mil to RM50mil.

Last week, during the tabling of Budget 2025, eyebrows were raised after Anwar, in an unread part of his speech, announced that the government will introduce a law on house arrest next year.

On Dec 5, the Court of Appeal will hear Najib’s appeal over the dismissal of his leave application for judicial review regarding an alleged addendum on house arrest.

Najib claimed that the addendum was issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong to allow him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.