THE conviction of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad case must not be treated as the end of Malaysia’s struggle against corruption and kleptocracy, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, better known as Bersih, said following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s ruling.
In a statement, Bersih said the verdict, together with Najib’s earlier conviction in the SRC International case, should instead be a catalyst for lasting institutional and electoral reform, warning that without systemic change, court decisions alone would do little to prevent the emergence of future kleptocrats.
Najib was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment and fined RM11.38 billion after the High Court found him guilty of four counts of abuse of power under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 and 21 counts of money laundering under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.
The charges involved RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds misappropriated between 2011 and 2014.
Bersih described the prosecution and conviction as the culmination of a long and difficult struggle by ordinary citizens, activists and members of the media, many of whom, it said, had risked their reputations, livelihoods and personal safety to ensure that those accused of grand corruption were eventually brought before the courts.
“This decision must be translated into comprehensive and courageous institutional reforms,” the coalition said.
The group recalled the mass Bersih 4 and Bersih 5 rallies, which drew large crowds in response to what was widely described as the country’s biggest financial scandal, following revelations that RM2.6 billion had entered the personal bank accounts of the then prime minister.
However, Bersih cautioned that verdicts alone would be meaningless if the current administration failed to overhaul institutions that it said remain vulnerable to political interference. It warned that without reform, Malaysia risks repeating the same failures that allowed corruption on such a scale to occur.
Among the reforms it highlighted were changes to the appointment processes of the judiciary, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner and the Election Commission, to ensure these institutions operate independently of the executive.
Bersih also renewed its long-standing call for the immediate separation of the roles of attorney general and public prosecutor, arguing that the concentration of prosecutorial power in a single office creates opportunities for abuse and political pressure.
The coalition further reiterated its demand that the contract of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki should not be renewed, adding that he should step down in light of the commission’s earlier position that funds deposited into Najib’s accounts were a personal donation.
“Law enforcement agencies must be genuinely independent and courageous enough to bring anyone before the courts,” Bersih said. “This is especially critical when dealing with those entrusted with power who instead choose to abuse it for personal gain.”
Bersih stressed that public confidence in Malaysia’s justice system can only be restored through institutional independence, transparency and comprehensive reform. It also expressed appreciation to Malaysians who have consistently taken a stand against corruption, emphasising that graft is not a value embraced by the nation.
On Friday, Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, now a Federal Court judge, delivered the sentence against Najib, marking one of the most consequential rulings in Malaysia’s legal history involving a former head of government. - December 27, 2025
