KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 – The media were denied access to the court proceedings regarding Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s legal attempt to compel the federal government and the Pardons Board to produce a purported “supplementary order” from the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, requested the proceedings to be heard in chambers, citing sensitivity due to materials disclosed in affidavits. During the closed-door session, which lasted approximately two hours, Najib’s legal team presented arguments for the court to grant leave for the lawsuit.
Muhammad Shafee highlighted the unique nature of the case, emphasizing the alleged concealment of the supplementary order purportedly issued by the former King. Najib’s application for leave to seek judicial review, filed on April 1, asserts that the former King ordered him to serve the remainder of his reduced sentence under house arrest. The Pardons Board had previously halved Najib’s 12-year prison term for misappropriating funds, allowing for a potential early release on August 23, 2028. Other reliefs sought by Najib include compelling the respondents to execute the supplementary order. The court is set to deliver its decision on granting leave to Najib on June 5.
