He also repealed the controversial Internal Security Act, replaced by new laws in 2012.

BBC: Profile: Najib Razak

Mr Anwar's arrest in 1998 was under the Internal Security Act, a harsh, but far blunter, instrument.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia

The men, all arrested between December 9 and 24 under the Internal Security Act, were members of the Jemaah Islamiyah -- a clandestine Islamic Group with links to other Southeast Asian nations.

CNN: Leaders slam terror plotters