Gobind: Sentence against Najib Razak over 1MDB underscores severity of offence committed

KUALA LUMPUR: The sentence meted out by the Kuala Lumpur High Court against former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case on Dec 26 underscores the severity of the offence committed.

DAP chairman Gobind Singh Deo said the sentence by High Court judge, Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah, also sends a clear signal that offences of such nature are “very serious and will not be looked upon lightly.”

“The 1MDB scandal is not merely a criminal case but a defining test of Malaysia’s institutions, governance framework and political will to confront wrongdoing at the highest levels,” said Gobind.

“The fiasco exposed deep systemic weaknesses that enabled the abuse of power to occur and persist for years, resulting in unprecedented financial losses and lasting damage to public trust.”

He added it was a well-known fact that DAP, together with many others, had pushed hard for action to be taken since news of the fiasco first broke out.

“It was difficult. There were consequences. Some were removed from office, and some even faced litigation in the process. These are the facts, and we must accept that many took great pains to protect our country in exposing the scale and magnitude of the problem,” said Gobind, who is Damansara MP.

“This case has, for more than a decade now, gripped our nation. It has also attracted global attention. All eyes were therefore focused on the outcome of this prosecution.”

On Dec 26, Sequerah found Najib guilty of four counts of abuse of power and 21 counts of money laundering involving RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds deposited into his AmBank accounts between February 2011 and December 2014. The judge ordered that Najib’s jail term begin in 2028, after he completes his six-year prison sentence in the SRC International case.

Najib was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for each of the four abuse of power charges, and five years’ imprisonment for each of the 21 money laundering charges. The court ruled that the jail terms were to run concurrently.

Najib, who is currently serving his sentence in the SRC International case, is due to be released on Aug 23, 2028.

Gobind added that, for many Malaysians, the case symbolised the urgent need for institutional reform, accountability and the restoration of integrity in public administration.

He added that while this ruling formed an integral part of the larger effort required to bring about change in our country, “we must push ahead with our call for reforms, moving into 2026.”

“The Madani Government has taken steps to amend the Audit Act and Parliamentary Service Act, for example. We have also commenced efforts to separate the roles of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor, which is key to ensuring transparency and accountability when it comes to prosecution. This is a step in the right direction.

“But more must be done. There is now an urgent need to also push for reforms in enforcement agencies that deliver real change.”

He highlighted recent cases, namely the shootings of three individuals in Melaka and the deaths of inmates in police stations and prisons, as “further examples of how problems which have been apparent for decades still continue.”

“This can and must be dealt with urgently,” said Gobind.

He also called for urgent changes within the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“There are serious concerns over how certain arrests, investigations and cases are handled. The oversight mechanisms currently provided need to be reviewed and strengthened.

“Our position in DAP remains clear. Our push against abuse of power, against corruption and for reforms, remains firm.

“Whilst we acknowledge the work put in by all enforcement agencies in dealing with cases and resolving them in our country, we must also accept that there are problems which must be dealt with.

“We must improve if we are to inspire greater confidence moving ahead. To do this, we need to deliver on reforms, develop better mechanisms which enhance good governance and build new structures needed in Malaysia to ensure that cases like these, and the losses our country suffers as a consequence, do not repeat again in future,” he added.