Latest news with #Najib
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Debt, deceit and delay: Malaysia's hidden fiscal crisis
BANK Negara Malaysia's (BNM) latest update reveals the Federal Government's direct debt has reached RM1.277 trillion, pushing the debt-to-GDP ratio to around 66% and breaching the 65% statutory ceiling. Predictably, social media is lit up with politically charged claims. Many simplistically argue that 'Najib's debt was safer,' citing lower ratios then. But they miss the real question: how much of that debt was simply hidden?
Malaysiakini
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
PM seeks shield fit for a king
Good morning. Here's our news and views that matter for today. Key Highlights PM seeks shield fit for a king Third Reich, Your Honour Shake-up at the top PM seeks shield fit for a king Anwar Ibrahim's unprecedented push for immunity from civil lawsuits has ignited a fierce debate over its constitutional legitimacy. Leading legal experts have voiced doubts about whether the Federal Constitution actually shields sitting prime ministers from such legal challenges. Several prominent lawyers tell Malaysiakini that, by and large, this kind of immunity does not extend to government officials. 'I think first and foremost, the concept that the prime minister of Malaysia has some form of legal immunity against civil suits or even criminal suits is something that the courts in Malaysia have not decided yet. 'In fact, the Federal Constitution only says that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and state rulers have a certain degree of immunity. The Constitution does not bestow immunity to any other person, including the prime minister,' said Lim Wei Jiet. 'So I am not sure on which basis the prime minister's lawyers are framing these questions of law to the Federal Court, relying on Articles 39, 40, and 43, because those articles don't talk about immunity. They talk about the powers of the executives and the cabinet in general,' he added. HIGHLIGHTS Third Reich, Your Honour Lawyer Shafee Abdullah draws a dramatic parallel between the ongoing royal addendum hearing for ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak and the dark days of Nazi-era rule, taking aim at the presiding judge over what he claims is a serious misstep. 'A judicial decision means you hear both parties. Since when do we do a Nazi-Germany kind of hearing? You must hear both parties,' he exclaimed. This was related to the contempt of court proceedings launched by Najib's legal team against former attorney-general Ahmad Terrirudin Salleh, over his actions in 2024, where he declined to reveal in court the existence of a royal addendum ordering Najib to serve the remainder of his six-year jail term under house arrest. Shafee's complaint is that the judge made a decision administratively without hearing both sides, which he argues is improper and unfair. HIGHLIGHTS Shake-up at the top Following the resignations of PKR ministers Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, attention is squarely on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim - what will his next move be in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle? Anwar stated that no discussions regarding a cabinet reshuffle have taken place and affirmed that such changes would not take place anytime soon. Khairy Jamaluddin, who is rumoured to make a comeback, has since downplayed the speculation, saying he is preoccupied with other matters. A reshuffle could additionally take place in Selangor, regardless of whether Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari moves to a federal post. The PKR election results are being cited to justify potential changes. HIGHLIGHTS Views that matter In case you missed it HIGHLIGHTS
![[UPDATED] High Court dismisses Najib's ex-lawyers' suit against Malaysian Bar](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fimages%2Farticles%2Fcourt_hammer1_1748515292.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[UPDATED] High Court dismisses Najib's ex-lawyers' suit against Malaysian Bar](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.nst.com.my%2Fassets%2FNST-Logo%402x.png%3Fid%3Db37a17055cb1ffea01f5&w=48&q=75){kind=small}
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
[UPDATED] High Court dismisses Najib's ex-lawyers' suit against Malaysian Bar
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar's statement criticising Datuk Seri Najib Razak's former legal team over their handling of his final SRC International appeal at the Federal Court did not amount to defamation, the High Court heard. Judge Roz Mawar Rozain made the ruling before dismissing a defamation suit filed by senior lawyer Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim and two others against the Bar and its former president, Karen Cheah Yee Lynn. Zaid, along with Liew Teck Huat and Reuben Mathiavaranam, had represented the former prime minister in his final appeal at the Federal Court in August 2022, replacing Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah. The trio filed the suit over Cheah's media statement titled "Abuse of Process Brings Disrepute to Our Justice System", issued on Aug 9 that year, claiming it had tarnished their reputations. In her ruling, Roz Mawar said the plaintiffs failed to establish that the words, in their natural and ordinary meaning, were defamatory in law. She said the reputational impact of the plaintiffs' conduct had already crystallised prior to the publication, due to their public statements and the unfolding events at the Federal Court. "The plaintiffs themselves had, prior to the publication, made multiple public disclosures including press interviews, social media postings, and commentaries admitting their lack of readiness, criticising prior counsel, and seeking adjournments which were ultimately refused by the apex court. "Their reputational position had already been shaped by facts in the public domain. "The impugned statements in the press release did not further lower or injure their standing in the eyes of reasonable members of society," she said. Roz Mawar said the plaintiffs' claim of conspiracy to injure also failed, as there was no evidence of any agreement or concerted effort by the defendants to cause harm. "No evidence was adduced to establish a concerted agreement between the defendants. "If the complaint is based on a publication said to be defamatory, a separate claim of conspiracy cannot stand on its own," she said," she said, adding that the plaintiffs' claim for breach of statutory duty also had no merit. The court said Cheah, who was then the Bar president, had acted within her statutory remit under Section 42(1)(d) of the Legal Profession Act in making public comments on matters of concern to the legal profession. "There is no actionable breach, and no specific compensable loss was proven to have flowed from the alleged breach," she added. Najib, on July 25, 2022, appointed Zaid's law firm to replace Shafee & Co in the final appeal of the SRC International case at the Federal Court, with Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik as lead counsel in place of Shafee. However, the apex court on Aug 23 upheld the conviction and sentence of 12 years' imprisonment and a RM210 million fine imposed on Najib, who was found guilty of embezzling RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. Najib's sentence was later reduced to six years, and the fine lowered to RM50 million, following his petition for a royal pardon on Sept 2, 2022.
Malaysian Reserve
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Allegation against Ahmad Terrirudin baseless, says AGC
by FARAH SOLHI THE allegation that former Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh misled the Kuala Lumpur High Court during the leave stage of Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak's judicial review in his house arrest case is completely baseless, said the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC). In a statement today, AGC said the allegation towards Ahmad Terrirudin, raised in Najib's recently filed committal application in High Court, were among the issues currently being scrutinised in Najib's appeal at Apex Court, which will be heard on July 1 and 2. It added that an order of stay of proceedings (postponement) has been issued by the High Court, and that any attempts to commence or continue the contempt proceedings while the order is still in force is a direct violation of the court order and undermines the orderly administration of justice. 'Ahmad Terrirudin has performed his duties in accordance with the constitutional functions of the office. Initiating committal proceedings while the appeal is still pending is inappropriate, premature and prejudicial. 'The ACG calls on all parties to allow the Federal Court to examine and decide on the issues of law and facts, that may be brought forward without pressure, speculation or outside action that could interfere with the course of justice. 'Justice must be served within the framework of the rule of law, not through public statements or side-track litigation,' the statement read. The AGC added that it will not hesitate to apply for the application to be dismissed as an abuse of court process. The AGC further said that the High Court, on April 28, has granted a stay of all proceedings until the appeal is decided by the Federal Court. On May 22, it added, the same court has confirmed in writing that the stay covers all existing and future proceedings related to this case, including contempt of court proceedings. Earlier today, Najib's counsels Messrs Shafee & Co said that they have filed a committal application against Ahmad Terrirudin on May 21, at the High Court where they cited grounds of contempt of court as the basis of the application. The law firm stated that Ahmad Terrirudin, being the AG at the material time, had knowingly, consciously and deliberately instructed or caused arguments that were untrue to be presented to the High Court, during Naijb's leave application for judicial review in regards to the Addendum Order. 'Despite having such knowledge, our client asserts that the former AG, while in office, instructed his officers to mislead the High Court during the hearing of the leave application for judicial review by portraying our client's claim regarding the existence of the Addendum Order as a fishing expedition — speculative and based on hearsay — despite knowing this to be patently false. 'It is our client's view that as a public officer, the former AG owed the court a paramount duty of candour,' said the law firm's statement. Najib, 71, filed his judicial review application on April 1 last year, seeking a mandamus order from the court to compel the government and six other respondents to confirm the existence of the royal addendum. However, the Kuala Lumpur (KL) High Court dismissed his application on July 3 of the same year, ruling that the affidavits submitted constituted hearsay evidence. On Jan 6 this year, the Court of Appeal returned Najib's application regarding the royal addendum to the High Court for a hearing. On April 28, the Federal Court allowed the current AG's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision, and the Apex Court is scheduled to hear the case in July. Najib is currently serving his jail term in Kajang Prison, Selangor, after the Federal Court maintained KL High Court's decision which found him guilty of corruption involving RM42 millions of funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Initially, he was sentenced to serve 12 years jail term and RM120 million fine on Aug 23, 2022. However, the Pardons Board announced on Feb 2 last year that his sentence was reduced to six years, with the fine lowered from RM120 million to RM50 million.
Malaysian Reserve
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Najib files contempt of court application against former AG
by FARAH SOLHI FORMER Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak has filed a committal application against former Attorney General (AG) Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh (picture). According to court documents seen by The Malaysian Reserve (TMR), the application — filed on May 21, 2025 — sought the Kuala Lumpur High Court's leave (permission) to initiate committal proceedings on the grounds of contempt of court. The law firm issuing the documents said that Ahmad Terrirudin, being the AG at the material time, had knowingly, consciously and deliberately instructed or caused arguments that were untrue to be presented to the High Court, during Naijb's leave application for judicial review in regards to the Addendum Order. 'He (Ahmad Terrirudin) had received the Order from the previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong instructing him, by name, to execute the house imprisonment of the applicant's (Najib) from Jan 29, 2024. 'The respondent endorsing such false submissions to the court is contrary to his paramount duty to the administration of justice. 'It undermines public confidence in the judicial system and constitutes contempt in the face of the court and or an interference with the due administration of justice, especially when the office of the AG has a duty of candour towards the applicant and the public at large,' the document stated. Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the law firm reiterated its claims that Ahmad Terrirudin had direct knowledge of the Order, following a Pahang Royal Council letter that had formally confirmed the authenticity and validity of the Order, that was personally addressed to the former AG during his time in office. 'Despite having such knowledge, our client asserts that the former AG, while in office, instructed his officers to mislead the High Court during the hearing of the leave application for judicial review by portraying our client's claim regarding the existence of the Addendum Order as a fishing expedition — speculative and based on hearsay — despite knowing this to be patently false. 'It is our client's view that as a public officer, the former AG owed the court a paramount duty of candour. 'Malaysian and international jurisprudence, including decisions of our own Federal Court recently, makes plain that the government must place all relevant facts and documents before the court in any judicial review matter. 'A deliberate failure to do so undermines public confidence in the administration of justice, and indeed is an obstruction of justice itself,' the statement said. The firm further said that given Ahmad Terrirudin now serves as a Federal Court judge, it is essential that he be afforded an opportunity to answer these serious allegations, and if appropriate, purge the contempt. Najib, 71, filed his judicial review application on April 1 last year, seeking a mandamus order from the court to compel the government and six other respondents to confirm the existence of the royal addendum. However, the Kuala Lumpur (KL) High Court dismissed his application on July 3 of the same year, ruling that the affidavits submitted constituted hearsay evidence. On Jan 6 this year, the Court of Appeal returned Najib's application regarding the royal addendum to the High Court for a hearing. On April 28, the Federal Court allowed the current AG's appeal against the Court of Appeal's decision, and the Apex Court is scheduled to hear the case in July. Najib is currently serving his jail term in Kajang Prison, Selangor, after the Federal Court maintained KL High Court's decision which found him guilty of corruption involving RM42 millions of funds belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB). Initially, he was sentenced to serve 12 years jail term and RM120 million fine on Aug 23, 2022. However, the Pardons Board announced on Feb 2 last year that his sentence was reduced to six years, with the fine lowered from RM120 million to RM50 million.
