In a written parliamentary reply to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), Azalina said this was based on feedback received from the legal affairs division of the Prime Minister’s Department.

“According to the division, which acts independently in carrying out its responsibilities, regarding the (judicial) review of the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on Najib Razak’s application by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the document was declassified in January 2025,” she said.

Last year, Najib initiated court proceedings over an alleged addendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.

The appeal was later heard on Jan 6, where the Court of Appeal granted Najib leave to begin a judicial review.

On Jan 9, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa had dismissed calls for the FTPB to make public its deliberations on Najib’s pardon application.

Zaliha, a member of the FTPB, said the board’s meeting minutes were confidential and accessible only to its members.

On Feb 2 last year, the pardons board announced that Najib’s prison sentence had been halved from 12 years to six, and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.

In his written parliamentary question, Lim had also inquired whether house detention is legally permitted as a form of punishment in Malaysia.

Azalina clarified that under Section 3 of the Prisons Act 1995, the home minister has the authority to designate any house, building or place as a prison for detention purposes.

“Furthermore, Section 43 of the Prisons Act 1995 grants the prisons commissioner-general the authority to release prisoners on licence, subject to certain stipulated conditions,” she said, adding that any violation of these conditions could result in fines or reimprisonment.