KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — A document purportedly showing that Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh had signed a house arrest order for former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak went viral on social media on Thursday — a claim Hannah has categorically rejected, calling the document outright fake.
Hannah addressed the matter directly via her X account in a post published at 1:05am on September 18, 2026, stating that she had never signed any such order and that the document had surfaced before the Federal Territories Pardons Board had even convened.
“I have never signed any house arrest order as claimed in the document. The Pardons Board had yet to convene when it surfaced. Please do not spread this fake document. My press secretary has lodged a report with the authorities,” she wrote.
Viral Document Surfaces Before Pardons Board Convenes
The fake document began circulating on social media ahead of the 64th Meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya — a meeting that had drawn significant media attention, with journalists gathering at Istana Negara from early morning to follow developments related to Najib’s pardon petition.
Hannah’s post noted a critical inconsistency that exposed the document as fabricated: the purported house arrest order bearing her signature had gone viral at a point in time when the Pardons Board had not yet held its sitting. The timeline alone contradicts the document’s authenticity.
The minister also shared a screenshot within the same X post confirming that a formal report had been submitted to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) regarding the circulation of the fake document.
MCMC Report Filed as Misinformation Spreads Across Platforms
Hannah Yeoh’s press secretary lodged the report with the MCMC and other relevant authorities to address the spread of the fabricated document. The MCMC is Malaysia’s primary regulatory body overseeing online content and digital communications, with enforcement powers under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The swift action to report the matter underscores the seriousness with which the minister’s office treated the circulation of the false document, particularly given the high-profile and politically sensitive nature of the Najib pardon proceedings.
Pardons Board Meeting at Istana Negara Draws National Attention
Istana Negara remained the focal point of national media coverage throughout the day as the 64th Meeting of the Federal Territories Pardons Board proceeded. The meeting had been widely anticipated amid public discourse surrounding a reported petition by Najib Razak seeking relief from his prison sentence.
Later on September 18, 2026, it was confirmed that Najib had received a conditional pardon, with the former prime minister set to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. Hannah Yeoh, in her capacity as Minister for Federal Territories, would ordinarily play an administrative role in matters relating to the Federal Territories Pardons Board — a fact that likely made her name a target for those fabricating the false document.
However, Hannah’s denial is unambiguous: she did not sign any house arrest order, and the document circulating on social media does not reflect any official action taken by her office.
Reporting based on statements published via Hannah Yeoh’s verified X account (@hannahyeoh) on September 18, 2026, and Bernama wire reports. This article will be updated as further developments emerge.
About the Author
