Najib’s decision will not strain UMNO-PH relations, says analyst

THE High Court’s decision regarding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest addendum is unlikely to strain relations between UMNO and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, according to political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan.

Dr Azmi, a senior fellow at the Academy Nusantara, said the ruling was entirely a judicial decision and therefore should not be politicised or linked to executive interference.

“This decision is 100 per cent from the court,” he said.

“Had it come from the Pardons Board, where the Prime Minister and the Federal Territories Minister have a role, it might have affected relations. But this is a court ruling, and that makes a significant difference.”

He added that accusations of interference by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were unlikely to gain traction within UMNO, given the institutional separation between the judiciary and the executive.

Dr Azmi pointed out that the minister overseeing matters related to judicial institutions is from Barisan Nasional (BN), making it difficult to associate the court’s decision with executive power or the current government.

“As such, it would be hard for UMNO members to accuse the prime minister of interference,” he said, noting that the government itself is backed by UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Najib, who is currently serving a prison sentence following his conviction in the SRC International case, had sought recognition of an alleged addendum allowing him to serve his sentence under house arrest.

The court’s ruling on the matter has drawn significant political attention amid ongoing debates over institutional independence and coalition dynamics.

Najib suffered a legal setback today as the High Court dismissed his application to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence under house arrest, compelling him to continue his incarceration at Kajang Prison.

High Court judge Alice Loke Yee Ching ruled that the add-on order, previously issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong to permit Najib’s house arrest, is invalid and cannot be implemented.

The decision underscores that Najib must complete the remaining duration of his sentence in prison, reaffirming the court’s stance on the enforceability of custodial sentences.

The ruling also highlights the legal limitations surrounding any royal directives aimed at altering the conditions of imprisonment.

However, Dr Azmi stressed that the verdict should be viewed strictly within the legal framework and not as a political manoeuvre, warning against attempts to conflate judicial outcomes with executive intent.

Meanwhile Najib 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. – December 23, 2025