Najib should not be placed under house arrest, said Asraf Sharafi Mohammad Azhar, executive director of The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections better known as Bersih. “We do not rule out any possibility, including taking to the streets, but we will wait for the Pardons Board’s decision.”
KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 10): A coalition of 47 civil society organisations have called for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve out the remainder of his sentence in jail.
The call comes ahead of a Pardons Board meeting on Friday to consider, among other matters, Najib’s appeal for a pardon over his convictions linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
Najib should not be placed under house arrest, said Asraf Sharafi Mohammad Azhar, executive director of The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections better known as Bersih. “We do not rule out any possibility, including taking to the streets, but we will wait for the Pardons Board's decision.”
In a joint press conference on Thursday, the groups led by Bersih urged against granting further leniency, emphasising that special consideration for house arrest undermines the rule of law and creates a two-tiered justice system.
WATCH: Bersih, civil groups demand Najib serve full jail term
"The country cannot send a signal that powerful political leaders found guilty of offences can take shortcuts to escape punishment,” Asraf stressed. “House arrest or a pardon for Najib poses a direct challenge to the moral values of Malaysian society.”
Najib is currently serving a reduced six-year jail term and a RM50 million fine after being found guilty of seven charges, including abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering. The sentence was reduced by the Federal Territories Pardons Board in 2024.
Bersih has in the past organised five massive rallies, each attended by tens of thousands of demonstrators and attracted international attention. The last major rally was in November 2016, which preceded the downfall of Najib and Barisan Nasional administration.
Najib has other open criminal and civil cases and “a pardon will block prosecution and is impractical while cases are ongoing", Asraf said.
He also highlighted that a pardon may set a precedent at a time when former prime ministers Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob are also facing corruption charges. “Will they too receive pardons or sentence relief if convicted?"
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should clarify his stance on the matter, said Hamdin Nordin of youth organisation Liga Rakyat Demokratik at the same press conference.
"One thing we want to tell the government today, specifically to Anwar,” Hamdin said. “We want to remind you that you became the prime minister because you aired on Najib in the previous election campaign.”