KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife have been barred from leaving the country by the Immigration Department.
The travel ban was announced on social media by Malaysia's Immigration Department, which said that the former first couple had been blacklisted from exiting the country.
The ousted former prime minister and his wife Rosmah Mansor were scheduled to fly to Indonesia for “a short break” via private jet after the shock election loss by his Barisan Nasional (BN) party.
Najib Razak said on his official Facebook page that “he will comply with the command of the immigration authority.”
“For the travel ban, the court have consistently ruled that the Immigration Department has an absolute discretion to ban anyone from traveling,” Eric Paulsen, the director of Lawyers For Liberty, told Arab News. “In the particular case of Najib and Rosmah I think a reasonable suspicion can easily be made of certain specific crimes,” he said.
Since losing office, there have been intense speculation about Najib Razak and his wife leaving to escape possible prosecution under the new government of Pakatan Harapan (PH). Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has vowed to end the corrupt regime under Najib Razak through enforcing “the rule of law” in the country.
The Najib administration has been dogged by the looting of the billion-dollar 1MDB investment fund, which included illegal money funding the Hollywood film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
The former first couple are unpopular among Malaysians and often ridiculed on social media for their luxurious and extravagant lifestyle. Known as the “Imelda Marcos of Malaysia,” Rosmah Mansor owns several costly Birkin bags as well as expensive jewellery which she claims she received as gifts.
An angry crowd gathered at Subang airport to stop Najib Razak leaving the country. The crowd stopped vehicles to check if the former Malaysia leader was in any of them.
“For us it is important for immigration to justify its decision, they should not just ban generally without giving reasons,” Paulsen told Arab News, adding that it was important for the new attorney-general to review the investigation papers on Najib and Rosmah.
The PH-led new government has promised to overhaul the country’s institutions, including vetting the Election Commission, the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission and the attorney-general for corruption.
“Najib and Rosmah should get the best legal defense team in town,” Paulsen said.
The Alliance of Hope administration led by 92-year-old Mahathir will form the new Cabinet and announce 10 key Cabinet members.
One of the key posts will be for the Finance Ministry, which will appoint an adviser to oversee the investigation into the 1MDB fund.
