{
  "id": 19596517,
  "title": "Govt moves to block Bar’s fresh challenge to Najib’s house arrest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/govt-moves-to-block-bars-fresh-challenge-to-najibs-house-arrest",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T03:44:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/11/12/govt-moves-to-block-bar-s-fresh-challenge-to-najib-s-house-arrest"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak began serving his house arrest on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysian Bar recently filed an application to contest the decision permitting Najib to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest. The government has now intervened to block this fresh legal challenge. Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly stated that the government received the court documents on the new application on Tuesday and requested additional time to review and prepare a response. The Attorney-General's Chambers said they would object to the Bar's application because Najib's decision to grant the conditional pardon is non-justiciable. The court has set March 17, 2027, to hear the government's and Najib's objections. The Bar's application targets the Federal Territories Pardons Board's decision to allow Najib to serve the remaining six years of his prison sentence under house arrest, arguing that the decision is unconstitutional. The Bar's challenge comes ahead of the Court of Appeal's decision on January 7 regarding another appeal by the Bar against the FTPB's January 2024 decision to reduce Najib's sentence and fine. Najib, 73, arrived at his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, on Tuesday night to commence his remaining house arrest period. He had been incarcerated at Kajang prison since August 23, 2022. In January 2024, the Sultan of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, halved Najib's 12-year sentence and reduced his fine from RM210 million to RM50 million under a royal pardon. In September 2026, the current Sultan, Ibrahim, granted a further conditional pardon, enabling Najib to serve the remaining portion of his sentence under house arrest until August 23, 2028. The RM50 million fine was paid by Umno through a public crowdfunding campaign.",
  "summary": "Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly tells the High Court that the Attorney-General's Chambers needs time to review the cause papers and prepare a reply.",
  "key_points": [
    "Malaysian government blocks Bar's challenge to Najib's house arrest.",
    "Government seeks more time to respond to Bar's application.",
    "Court hearing set for March 17, 2027 to consider objections."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The government's intervention signals a strategic effort to shield royal pardon decisions from judicial oversight by asserting that the pardons board's constitutional authority remains beyond the reach of legal challenges.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Vibes",
        "title": "Malaysian Bar seeks to halt Najib's house arrest pending court challenge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/malaysian-bar-seeks-to-halt-najibs-house-arrest-pending-court",
        "published": "2026-11-12T02:05:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Malaysian Bar mounts fresh challenge against Najib’s house arrest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/malaysian-bar-mounts-fresh-challenge-against-najibs-house-arrest",
        "published": "2026-11-12T02:05:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "Family can stay with Najib during house arrest, ex-PM also asked for 2nd home: Saifuddin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/family-can-stay-with-najib-during-house-arrest-ex-pm-also-asked-for",
        "published": "2026-11-12T02:59:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Najib allowed to live only with immediate family under house arrest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/najib-allowed-to-live-only-with-immediate-family-under-house-arrest",
        "published": "2026-11-12T03:13:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}