KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 – The High Court in Kuala Lumpur granted an interim stay of proceedings on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, halting the Malaysian Bar’s judicial review challenge against the Attorney-General’s decision to discontinue the Yayasan Akalbudi corruption trial involving Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Judge Datuk Azizan Md Arshad allowed the stay application brought by the Attorney-General during proceedings held in chambers, pending the outcome of a substantive appeal currently before the Federal Court.
Lawyer Datuk Guok Ngek Seong, representing Ahmad Zahid, confirmed the ruling to reporters, explaining that the notice of appeal was formally filed at the apex court on October 19 following recent procedural leave approvals.
“The judge allowed the application following developments at the Federal Court. The appeal hearing date has yet to be fixed as we only filed the notice of appeal on Oct 19,” Guok stated.
Federal Court Leave and Appellate History
Key legal milestones leading to the High Court stay order include:
- Apex Court Leave Granted: On October 8, a three-judge Federal Court panel chaired by Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah granted Ahmad Zahid and the Attorney-General leave to appeal the Court of Appeal’s ruling, citing novel constitutional questions requiring final apex court determination.
- Court of Appeal Reversal: On May 7, the Court of Appeal overturned an earlier June 27, 2024 High Court decision, granting the Malaysian Bar leave to proceed with its judicial review against the September 4, 2023 prosecution withdrawal.
- Bar’s Relief Sought: The Malaysian Bar’s judicial review seeks to nullify the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Ahmad Zahid over 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering linked to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
- Legal Representation: The chamber session was attended by lawyers Abhilaash Subramaniam for the Malaysian Bar, Federal Counsel Safiyyah Omar and Imtiyaz Wizni Aufa Othman for the AG, and Mohd Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman alongside Guok for Ahmad Zahid.
The Federal Court will fix a hearing date for the substantive appeal in upcoming case management sessions.
–NMT
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