KUALA LUMPUR: More than 50 local and international media representatives were present, along with about a dozen supporters and several police cars with armed personnel.
But all remained quiet at former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Jalan Langgak Duta residence hours after news broke that he had been given a conditional pardon and allowed house arrest for the remainder of his sentence.
The supporters and media had gathered there since 3pm, soon after Friday prayers.
His conditional pardon was announced at noon.
Najib’s special aide, Ahmad Lutfi Azhar, arrived at the residence at about 4.35pm but declined to comment when asked if the former Pekan MP had returned home.
“Sorry, I can’t respond,” he said.
Najib can only be released from Kajang Prison after he pays a RM50mil fine, and Umno is now raising funds.
According to a source, Najib’s eldest son Datuk Muhammad Nizar had said that family members would also not be present at the Jalan Langgak Duta residence.
The supporters, however, had been hoping against hope that Najib would show up.
Radiah Rashid, 68, from Sungai Buloh, said she had been waiting for the moment for years.
“I am extremely emotional. We have been waiting for this for a long time.
“It is not just me. All the supporters and Malaysians who love Datuk Seri have been waiting for this moment on this blessed Friday,” she said.
Another supporter, Siti Zalena Anuar, 43, said she travelled from Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan, after work.
“We miss Datuk Seri Najib’s leadership. I have been his supporter for a long time,” she said.
Najib, 73, has been serving his sentence at Kajang Prison since Aug 23, 2022, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction and 12-year jail term and RM210 fine in the SRC International case.
He was later given a partial pardon, halving his jail term to six years and reducing the fine to RM50mil.
