Malaysia: Defeated prime minister barred from leaving country

Event

Malaysian authorities announced on Saturday, May 12, that former Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife are barred from leaving the country. Since Najib’s defeat in elections earlier this month, there has been speculation that he may try to flee to avoid corruption charges.  These fears intensified when Najib’s plans for a vacation in Indonesia became public last week and dozens arrived to the airport to protest against his departure. Authorities claimed that there was sufficient evidence for an investigation into Najib’s role in the corruption scandal involving the 1Malaysia Development Bank (1MDB) where RM42 million (USD 10.6 million) was transferred from a former subsidiary of 1MDB into an account of Najib. Najib has denied any wrongdoing. An investigation is ongoing, and related demonstrations are possible in the coming days.

Context

Pakatan Harapan, the Malaysian opposition coalition, won the general election on May 9 by securing 115 seats in the national parliament; a 112-seat majority is needed to establish a government. This election marked the first time in 60 years that the Barisan Nasional (BN) party has not been in power.

Advice

Individuals present in Malaysia are advised to avoid public rallies, refrain from discussing domestic political issues, and anticipate a heightened security presence in urban areas.