Malaysian Bar mounts fresh challenge against Najib’s house arrest

This file picture shows vehicles believed to be carrying former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak arriving at his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur November 10, 2026. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

First Published: Thursday, 12 Nov 2026 10:05 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 — The Malaysian Bar has filed a fresh legal action challenging the Federal Territories Pardons Board's decision allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest.

The Bar filed the application for leave of judicial review on November 10 at the High Court here, naming the Federal Territories Pardons Board, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Director-General of Prisons and Najib as respondents.

The media obtained the documents yesterday. The application will be heard before Justice S. Indra Nehru today.

In the application, the Bar seeks a declaration that any proceedings or decision purportedly made under Articles 40 and 42 of the Federal Constitution is invalid in law and contradicts the Federal Constitution.

This includes the decision announced through a media statement dated September 18, 2026 by the second respondent, allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence by way of “house arrest” or “home detention.”

The Bar further seeks an order to quash the Pardons Board's proceedings and decision, as well as an order for the house arrest of the former prime minister to be stayed immediately, should leave be granted, pending the outcome of the judicial review. — Bernama