Malaysian Bar Council demands transparency on Najib house arrest costs

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian Bar Council has intensified pressure on the government to reveal the additional cost to taxpayers stemming from former Prime Minister Najib Razak's house arrest, signalling intentions to pursue a new court challenge on the matter.

The professional body representing Malaysian lawyers is seeking transparency regarding the financial implications of the arrangement, which allows Najib to serve his sentence outside prison walls. The Bar Council contends that taxpayers have a right to know the public funds allocated to this special accommodation.

The push for disclosure comes as part of broader concerns about the precedent set by Najib's house arrest, which has drawn scrutiny from legal practitioners and civil society groups. The Bar Council's anticipated court action would represent another legal avenue to examine the legality and appropriateness of the arrangement.

Najib was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2023 on money laundering charges related to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. His house arrest arrangement, which replaced his initial custodial sentence, has remained controversial since its implementation, with critics questioning both the legal foundation and fiscal responsibility of the decision.