Malaysian Bar to contest Najib's house-arrest pardon over legal vacuum

The Malaysian Bar announced it will legally challenge the conditional pardon granted to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, which would allow him to serve the balance of his sentence under house arrest after paying a RM50 million fine. Bar president Anand Raj contended that Malaysian law contains no provision for house arrest and that no standard operating procedures exist, citing Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail’s acknowledgment of the gap.

This is the Bar’s second challenge, after it sought judicial review of the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s January 2024 decision that reduced Najib’s prison term and fine. The appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal, which is also set to rule on the Bar’s earlier request for leave to challenge the first pardon. Additionally, the Bar raised concerns about Umno’s public fundraising to meet the fine, noting that seized assets worth RM114 million had already been returned to Najib. The Bar is demanding full disclosure of the house-arrest conditions, monitoring protocols, enforcement authorities, and any taxpayer costs involved.