KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 26 -- Even if former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's frozen assets were released, his family would still be unable to immediately raise the RM50 million fine required for him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, his eldest son has said.

Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib said the family was still working to raise the money, with Najib's ability to pay depending partly on how much could be collected through contributions, Malaysiakini reported today.

"If his assets were not frozen, that might help somewhat in raising the money. But the reality is that we still have much to do before we reach that amount," Nizar was quoted as saying.

"Whether my father can afford to pay it depends on how much ...