[1] A few days ago, the High Court rejected former prime minister Najib Tun Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest. The court ruled that the house-arrest order was invalid, as it did not comply with procedures set out in the Federal Constitution.[1]
[2] It was a proud day for Malaysia. Not because Najib failed in his bid, but because something far more important prevailed: the rule of law. In the face of sustained political pressure, the courts did exactly what they are constitutionally bound to do — apply the law without fear or favour.
[3] UMNO is incensed that many Malaysians were pleased with the judgment.[2] Party leaders and sympathisers insist the public should respond with solemnity and sorrow — as if it were somehow indecent to feel relief that a convicted criminal must continue serving a lawful prison sentence.
[4] Having failed in court, some of Najib’s supporters have now turned to a more dangerous tactic: incitement. They claim the judgment is an affront to the Malay rulers and a threat to their authority. This crude attempt to yoke Najib’s personal legal fate to the position of the Malay rulers is a deeply cynical manoeuvre. It politicises a purely legal matter and, in the process, insults the very institution they claim to defend.
[5] We all know that UMNO has worked tirelessly to manufacture an alternative reality around Najib. We are repeatedly reminded of his former position, his contributions to the nation, and how deeply “loved” he is. Left unsaid, are the crimes he committed while in office. But this is not about affection; it is about law. It is not about past achievements; it is about corruption and betrayal of trust.
[6] Let’s not forget too that he has already been shown extraordinary leniency. His sentence was halved through the intervention of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim[3] — a privilege granted to very few Malaysians convicted of serious crimes. That such indulgence was extended despite the complete absence of remorse makes the continuing demands for further concessions all the more offensive.
[7] UMNO may not believe that corrupt leaders should be held accountable; Malaysians do. They are weary of being robbed, deceived, and abused by those in power. That is why voters finally ejected UMNO from office in 2018 — a clear and unmistakable message to the entire political class that such conduct would no longer be tolerated.
[8] Yet that hard-won momentum towards clean governance has since been squandered. For the sake of his own ambitions, the prime minister has chosen to mollycoddle tainted politicians, grant them DNAAs and restore questionable figures to positions of power and influence — all while delivering endless sermons on good governance. It is therefore hardly surprising that a culture of entitlement and impunity has resurfaced, one in which even convicted criminals bristle at the notion that they must serve time like everyone else.
[9] The moral rot has now gone so far that there are calls for a so-called “political reset”[4] — in effect, a grand amnesty for former leaders who are either imprisoned or facing criminal charges. We are told this is necessary for political stability. In reality, it is a cynical and devious manipulation of the law for political convenience. Corrupt politicians break the law and, when caught, threaten instability to escape accountability. How does that make for stability?
[10] Are we to endure this farce every time a powerful figure is convicted? If so, Parliament might remind itself of the absurdity and simply pass a law exempting politicians from corruption in the name of stability and racial harmony. To excuse the crimes of the powerful is to place the nation on a perilous slope. Malaysia is already buckling under the weight of corruption; a “political reset” would drown us in it permanently. This is not justice; it is the triumph of iniquity.
[11] So yes, I celebrate the court’s decision. To do otherwise would be to dull our moral instincts, to foolishly hang our heads not because justice failed, but because it continues to prevail. To withhold approval of such a verdict is to side, however quietly, with those who seek to subvert justice for political gain. UMNO’s leadership has lost its moral compass; Malaysians must show that they have not.
[Dennis Ignatius | Kuala Lumpur |25 December 2025]
[1] High Court: Najib’s house arrest order can’t be carried out, since no laws for this in Malaysia |Malay Mail |23 Dec 2025
[2] Umno sec-gen slams Yeo for celebrating Najib’s house arrest verdict |FMT |23 Dec 2025
[3] Anwar: ‘I submitted Najib’s royal pardon application for consideration’ | NST |10 Dec 2025
[4] DAP man floats full pardon for Najib as part of ‘political reset’ | Malaysiakini |23 Dec 2025
Dennis Ignatius 
You must be logged in to post a comment.