In 2-1 decision, Court of Appeals allows Najib to challenge existence of ‘house arrest’ order issued by former Agong

In 2-1 decision, Court of Appeals allows Najib to challenge existence of ‘house arrest’ order issued by former Agong



Najib’s supporters outside the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on January 6, 2025 react as the convicted former prime minister wins a small victory after two out of a panel of three judges in the Court of Appeal ruled to allow him to compel the Malaysian government to produce a purported “supplementary order” from the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong that would see him serve the remainder of his jail sentence under “house arrest”. — Picture by Choo Choy May

By Kenneth Tee
Monday, 06 Jan 2025 1:45 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Jan 6 — The Court of Appeal today allowed Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s appeal against the dismissal of his bid to compel the Malaysian government to produce a purported “supplementary order” from the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong that would see him serve the remainder of his jail sentence under “house arrest”.

The three judges who sat on the Bench were split in their decision, with Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli and Datuk Seri Mohd Firuz Jaffril ruling in favour of Najib while Datuk Azizah Nawawi, who chaired the panel, dissented.


The majority ruling also allowed Najib to adduce additional evidence to support his claim of the existence of such an addendum.

Today’s ruling means that Najib is allowed to have the merits of his judicial review of a purported addendum issued by the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong – which permits him to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest – heard by the High Court.


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