Najib withdraws appeal over legal bid to attend Parliament

Former prime minister Najib Razak has withdrawn his appeal to the Court of Appeal for leave to commence a legal challenge over the Prisons Department’s refusal to allow his request to attend Parliament sittings.

The notice of discontinuance of the appeal was filed on July 12 by Messrs Shafee & Co, the legal firm representing Najib.

The court and Attorney-General’s Chambers, appearing for the Malaysian government, the home affairs minister, and the commissioner general of prisons, have been notified of the withdrawal.

On Oct 27 last year, the High Court in Kuala Lumpur dismissed the former prime minister's application to obtain leave to commence a judicial review to challenge the Prisons Department's refusal to allow his request to attend a Parliament sitting.

Judge Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid held that Najib's application was academic as he ceased to be a member of Parliament following the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 1 last year, which paved the way for the 15th general election, which was subsequently held the following month.

The High Court judge also said that unless and until a pardon is given or Najib's conviction is quashed upon review, there is no possibility that he will again be an MP, adding that the law prohibits any convicted person from contesting an election.

Najib filed the application on Oct 5 last year and named the Malaysian government, the home minister, and the commissioner general of prisons as the first, second, and third respondent, respectively.

He was seeking an order to quash the decision of the third respondent to not allow him access to his officers or aides for the purposes of parliamentary, legislative, and constituency work.

Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence in Kajang Prison after the Federal Court upheld his conviction, jail term, and RM120 million fine for misappropriating SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.