KUALA LUMPUR – The Court of Appeal has fixed January 7, 2027, to deliver its ruling on the Malaysian Bar’s bid to judicially review the Federal Territories Pardons Board’s (FTPB) decision to slash former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s sentence.
Lawyer Zainur Zakaria, representing the Malaysian Bar, confirmed the decision date today.
A three-member appellate bench comprising Justices Datuk Lim Chong Fong, Datuk Azhahari Kamal Ramli, and Datuk Leonard David Shim reserved judgment on July 31 after hearing extensive submissions from all parties.
The Malaysian Bar is appealing a November 2024 High Court ruling that dismissed its leave application to quash the Pardons Board’s decision.
In its application filed in April 2024 against the FTPB and Najib, the Bar sought a court declaration that the January 29, 2024 decision—which halved Najib’s 12-year jail term to six years and reduced his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million—is unconstitutional, illegal, and void.
Najib, 73, has been serving his sentence in Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, following his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd.
The legal challenge comes against the backdrop of recent developments, following a conditional royal pardon granted on September 18 that allows Najib to serve the remainder of his term under house arrest.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar noted yesterday that Najib has yet to settle the RM50 million fine required under the conditions of that order. – September 22, 2026