EX-prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak intends to challenge the High Court’s ruling that denied his bid to serve the remainder of his six-year prison term under house arrest.
Immediately following the court’s decision, Najib’s lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the judge that he had been instructed by his client to file an appeal.
The High Court’s ruling confirms that Najib must continue serving his sentence at Kajang Prison, reinforcing the enforceability of custodial orders despite prior attempts to alter the conditions of his imprisonment.
The planned appeal is expected to prolong the legal proceedings surrounding Najib’s incarceration, attracting both national and international attention given the former prime minister’s high-profile political stature.
“The instruction from my client is clear — we will appeal the case,” Tan Sri Shafee told the court, signalling the next step in Najib’s legal strategy.
The court’s decision and the forthcoming appeal highlight ongoing debates in Malaysia over the intersection of legal authority, political symbolism, and the application of custodial sentences for former senior leaders. - December 22, 2025
