The civil court has allowed Najib Abdul Razak to respond to the Malaysian Bar’s judicial review leave application to challenge the Pardons Board’s decision behind the reduction in the former prime minister’s jail sentence and fine.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court this afternoon allowed the oral bid by Najib’s lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah for the ex-finance minister to be allowed to respond to the Bar’s legal action while it was still at leave stage.