KUALA LUMPUR – Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has called on all parties to allow the courts to determine the Malaysian Bar’s latest challenge against Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest, amid the government’s intention to contest the application.
Speaking to reporters after launching National AI Readiness Week here today, Gobind was asked about the Bar’s fresh judicial review application and allegations that the Attorney-General had been instructed to prevent the challenge from proceeding.
Gobind said he had only read reports that an application had been filed and urged all parties to let the legal process run its course.
“Block it? What do you mean by that?
“As far as I’m concerned, I read today that an application has been filed.
“So, let the law take its course, and then we will see what happens from there,” he said.
The Malaysian Bar filed its latest judicial review application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on November 10, seeking to challenge the decision permitting the former prime minister to serve the remainder of his six-year prison sentence in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case under house arrest.
The application seeks leave to challenge the proceedings, decisions and actions of the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) in connection with the arrangement announced on September 18.
Among the reliefs sought is an order of certiorari to quash the FTPB’s proceedings on that date, as well as any subsequent decisions, orders or arrangements made to facilitate Najib’s house arrest.
The Bar is also seeking declarations that the proceedings and subsequent actions by government departments to implement the arrangement were unlawful, unconstitutional and void.
It further wants the court to suspend the implementation of the house arrest arrangement until the judicial review is fully disposed of.
Najib, the FTPB, the Commissioner-General of Prisons and the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) have been named as respondents.
At the High Court today, senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly informed the court that the government intended to oppose the application, but needed more time for the Attorney-General’s Chambers to examine the cause papers and prepare its response.
He said the government would challenge the application on the basis that the decision to grant Najib a conditional pardon was non-justiciable, meaning it was not a matter that could be determined by the courts.
“We will object to this application because the decision (to grant Najib the conditional pardon) is non-justiciable,” he was quoted as saying by local media.
Najib’s lawyer, Muhammad Farhan Muhammad Shafee, also told the court that his client intended to file submissions, while the Bar’s lawyer, Zainur Zakaria, said the organisation had no objection to both parties being given additional time.
The High Court subsequently fixed March 17, 2027, for the hearing of the government’s and Najib’s objections.
The latest legal challenge was lodged on the same day Najib began serving the remainder of his SRC International sentence at his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Kuala Lumpur.
The 73-year-old had been imprisoned at Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, following his conviction in the SRC International case.
In January 2024, the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, granted Najib a royal pardon, reducing his 12-year prison sentence by half and cutting his RM210 million fine to RM50 million.
In September 2026, the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, granted Najib a further conditional pardon, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028.
The latest application is separate from the Malaysian Bar’s earlier legal challenge against the FTPB’s January 2024 decision to reduce Najib’s sentence and fine.
The Court of Appeal is scheduled to deliver its decision in that case on January 7, 2027. – November 12, 2026.