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Malaysia High Court Rejects Najib Razak’s Sentence Stay

By Drooid · Oct 14, 2026, 2:34 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Najib Denied Stay

Malaysia's High Court rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak's request to stay his 15-year sentence and RM11.38 billion fine.
Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin ruled on 14 October 2026 that Najib showed no special circumstances outweighing public interest.
Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah will file a fresh stay application with the Court of Appeal.
Najib's 15-year term begins after his six-year SRC International sentence ends in August 2028.

Summary

UMNO Launches Fundraiser

King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar approved Najib’s house-arrest request, conditional on paying a 50 million ringgit fine.
United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) launched a fundraising drive to collect the 50 million ringgit needed.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition faces heightened tension after the royal pardon and UMNO’s involvement.
DAP leader Anthony Loke will resign as transport minister and stay in cabinet only until Najib begins house arrest.

History

Historical Context

Malaysia’s tradition of prosecuting senior UMNO officials began when Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim received a nine-year sodomy sentence in August 2000, a judgment later reinforced by a five-year term upheld in February 2015. Those politically charged trials illustrate a long-standing shift toward greater legal accountability for the party’s elite.

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Najib Denied Stay

Malaysia's High Court rejected former Prime Minister Najib Razak's request to stay his 15-year sentence and RM11.38 billion fine.
Judge Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin ruled on 14 October 2026 that Najib showed no special circumstances outweighing public interest.
Lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah will file a fresh stay application with the Court of Appeal.
Najib's 15-year term begins after his six-year SRC International sentence ends in August 2028.

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