KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — A high court in Malaysia on Tuesday cleared all legal hurdles for the transfer of imprisoned former Prime Minister Najib Razak to his home to serve the remainder of his graft sentence under house arrest, his lawyer said.
Najib has been behind bars since August 2022, when the Kuala Lumpur High Court upheld his graft conviction linked to a multibillion-dollar looting of the state investment fund 1MDB. In September, Najib was granted royal clemency, allowing him to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest once he pays a court-imposed fine.
Last Friday, he left prison after his political party paid the 50 million ringgit ($12.3 million) fine but he was brought back hours later after the attorney general blocked the transfer, seeking legal clarifications.
The attorney general's request sparked a public rebuke from the palace, which said that King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar’s prerogative of pardon for Najib that allowed the house arrest was clear and must be respected. It said any attempts to challenge it would amount to defying the royal order.
Najib's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said Tuesday all was settled for the former prime minister's transfer to house arrest at his Kuala Lumpur home, where he is to remain until Aug. 23, 2028.
Najib appeared in court on Tuesday; the transfer was expected to take place later in the day. Police later sealed off the road leading to his home.
“It’s a final relief, you know, great sigh to him because he has been waiting for this,” the lawyer said.
The house arrest covers only Najib's reduced, six-year sentence in his first trial for graft and not a separate, 15-year sentence handed down last December for corruption and money laundering. That sentence followed a second major trial tied to the 1MDB scandal.
Najib is also appealing that sentence, which he is to serve after the end of his first sentence. If his appeal fails, he could return to prison after his house arrest ends.
Najib, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2018, has denied any wrongdoing. He is Malaysia’s first former leader to be imprisoned under a sentence related to the 1MDB scandal. It marked one of the world’s largest financial scandals, rippling across global markets and triggering investigations in the United States and other countries.
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, escorted by prison officers, arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, escorted by prison officers, arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, escorted by prison officers, arrives at the Kuala Lumpur High Court complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
MARKHAM, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 10, 2026--
Electric vehicles have plenty going for them. They're quiet, deliver instant acceleration, and let owners skip the gas station altogether. That's an appealing combination, especially for anyone who's tired of watching fuel prices fluctuate. But spending money on a new car takes more than a little enthusiasm for new technology. Buyers also need to know what they're getting into over the next five or 10 years.
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Based on recent research, Canadians are increasingly intrigued by EVs.
J.D. Power's 2026 Canada Electric Vehicle Consideration Study found that 34% of new-vehicle shoppers are considering an EV, compared with 28% in 2025 1. This marks the first increase since the study began in 2022.
What's holding others back?
One headwind is ownership costs, particularly when keeping a conventional vehicle on the road is becoming more expensive. In September 2026, J.D. Power reported that the average dealership service bill in Canada had reached C$566 for vehicles aged four to 12 years, a 51% increase from 2020 2.
Electric vehicles have an advantage here. Without an internal combustion engine, there's no need for oil changes, and regenerative braking can reduce wear on conventional brakes.
For automakers hoping to win over Canadian buyers, an impressive specification sheet may no longer be enough as a Leger survey commissions by Rates.ca found that 45% of Canadians interested in or undecided about EVs were concerned about maintenance and repair expenses 3. The vehicle also needs to make financial sense several years after leaving the showroom.
VinFast, the Vietnamese EV manufacturer behind the VF 8 electric SUVs, is tackling that concern with extensive warranty coverage, potentially lower running costs, and a growing range of ownership services.
What VinFast Brings to the Table
Warranty terms become considerably more important once the odometer starts climbing.
In Canada, VinFast offers a 10-year or 200,000-km new vehicle limited warranty on the five-seat VF 8, whichever comes first. Their high-voltage batteries receive separate coverage for 10 years with unlimited kilometres under standard personal use, subject to warranty conditions.
To put those numbers into perspective, a driver covering 20,000 km annually could spend an entire decade behind the wheel before reaching the vehicle warranty's mileage limit. Someone travelling substantially farther would also benefit from the absence of a kilometre restriction on the battery warranty.
Beyond warranty protection, VinFast has another argument that may appeal to Canadians who spend plenty of time on the road: electricity generally costs considerably less than gasoline.
According to VinFast Canada’s Energy Cost Savings Calculator, driving a VF 8 Eco for 2,000 km per month could save approximately C$8,328 in energy expenses over three years compared with a conventional gasoline vehicle. The VF 8 Plus posts a similarly compelling figure at C$8,107. Under the same assumptions, that translates to estimated energy-cost reductions of 77% for the VF 8 Eco and 75% for the VF 8 Plus 3.
The prospect of spending thousand of dollars less on energy over three years is worth examining if you regularly cover long distances.
Then comes charging, which remains a practical consideration for Canadian EV owners, particularly on longer journeys. VinFast's mobile app provides access to more than 250,000 Level 2 and DC fast-charging stations across North America. Besides helping drivers locate participating stations, it can plan routes with charging stops and manage charging sessions, making unfamiliar journeys easier to organize.
For drivers tired of watching fuel prices swing, the VF 8 offers a compelling alternative: significantly lower energy costs, a 10-year warranty, and the peace of mind of knowing what ownership will look like years from now. For Canadians looking beyond the sticker price, VinFast gives them plenty to think about.
About VinFast
VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) company with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric cars, e-scooters, e-bikes and e-buses.
VinFast is embarking on its next growth phase by rapidly scaling its distribution and franchised dealership network globally while expanding its global manufacturing footprint across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.ca/en
A 10-Year Warranty and Lower Running Costs: VinFast Gives Canadians Something to Think About
