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THE MADANI government has reaffirmed its adherence to the principles of the rule of law and separation of powers following a High Court decision regarding former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his prison term through home detention.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasised that the judiciary must remain independent and free from external influence. “On this principle, I respect the decision made by the judge,” he said in a statement today.
Anwar stressed that under the principle of the rule of law, all parties should respect judicial decisions.
The High Court yesterday rejected Najib’s judicial review application, which sought to enforce a Titah Adendum allowing him to serve the remainder of his prison sentence at his residence.
Judge Alice Loke Yee Ching ruled that the issue of home detention had never been deliberated in the Pardons Board meeting held on 29 January last year.
She further determined that the Titah Adendum was not legally valid and could not be implemented for the purpose of serving prison time under house arrest in Malaysia.
In his application, Najib had sought a mandamus order requiring the government to immediately transfer him from Kajang Prison to his home to serve the remaining sentence under home detention.
The former Prime Minister’s bid for house arrest arose in 2024, following his judicial review application, after the Pardons Board announced a reduction in his SRC International prison sentence from 12 years to six years, alongside a reduction in the fine from RM210 million to RM50 million.
Najib argued in his submission that an additional ‘Titah’ (Royal Addendum) purportedly allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence under home detention, separate from the main royal decree that had reduced his sentence.
The court’s decision maintains that the reduction of Najib’s sentence must be served under standard prison custody, reinforcing the judiciary’s authority and the separation of powers in Malaysia. - December 23, 2025