Umno is urging former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak be granted house arrest, citing the Attorney General's Chambers' (AGC) recent confirmation of a royal addendum supporting such an arrangement.

The AGC acknowledged the existence of this addendum during its appeal against Najib's judicial review application this week. Umno's Secretary-General Datuk Seri Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki appealed to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, asking for the decree to be enforced under the King's absolute powers (Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution), which grants the King authority to pardon or reduce sentences.

The royal addendum, issued by the previous Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, stipulated Najib should serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.This emerged after the Federal Territories Pardons Board halved Najib's SRC International sentence to six years on February 2, 2024, making him eligible for release by August 23, 2028.

Najib has been imprisoned since August 23, 2022, following his conviction in the SRC International case, and also faces other trials related to the 1MDB scandal