Malaysia seeks gag order on Najib Razak’s house arrest bid

Malaysia on Monday was seeking to prevent public discourse on jailed former prime minister Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest, a week after his court victory led to political unease.

The gag order application, which was expected to be filed on January 20, also sought to prohibit the Malaysian parliament from discussing Najib’s attempt to serve the rest of his prison sentence at his own residence.

Last week, the former prime minister, who has been in jail since 2022 for crimes related to the 1MDB state investment fund, won a legal challenge that would allow his case for house arrest to be heard in Malaysia’s High Court.

Najib’s camp argued that Malaysia’s former king Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah had decreed for him to be detained at home, seeking a court order compelling the government to verify and execute the king’s wishes.

Najib’s fate was a political headache for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, torn between appeasing key ally United Malays National Organisation (Umno) – which has long championed for its former leader Najib’s freedom – and upholding his credentials as a reformist and anti-corruption crusader among his core supporters.

Last year, the former king halved Najib’s 12-year prison sentence and reduced his fine, prompting Anwar to call for public calm.