Disgraced former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for corruption, is now pursuing a Master’s degree behind bars.
This was confirmed by Minister of Home Affairs Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution bin Ismail.
Pursuing Master’s degree from UKM
In a recent interview with Sin Chew Daily, Saifuddin said that Najib is pursuing a master’s degree from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and the authorities will try to facilitate his studies as long as standard operating procedures (SOP) are followed.
He also highlighted that many inmates have completed higher education programs and emphasised the importance of using their time in prison to better themselves.
It may not be widely known, but numerous prisoners have earned master’s and even doctoral degrees while serving their sentences and subsequently reintegrated into society,” he said.
Certain limitations in place
However, this is not to say that Najib’s pursuit of a master’s degree is without restrictions.
According to Saifuddin, the former prime minister isn’t allowed to use a laptop or the Internet while in prison, with his media team being the ones who can share his views on various issues on his behalf.
This comes after Malaysians often complained about Najib being able to post frequent updates on his official Facebook account from prison, which have garnered much attention.
However, Saifuddin clarified that there’s no law barring Najib from expressing his opinions online.
“There are no legal restrictions preventing Najib from expressing his opinions while in prison, just like present Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who, when given the opportunity to attend court hearings, was able to make a statement.
“Therefore, I believe that Najib should not be prevented from sharing his views,” he said.
How Najib got here
Najib’s imprisonment stems from his involvement in the 1MDB scandal, which saw billions of dollars embezzled from the state investment fund.
After he was found guilty of misappropriating SRC International funds, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million.
However, he recently scored a small legal victory after he was acquitted of tampering with 1MDB audit records alongside its former CEO Arul Kanda.
Read about it here:
