Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella'
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Key Highlights
Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella'
Daim's dynasty under fire, his widow fires back
Rafizi in green, trading blows with Anwar?
Legal storm hits PM, Dr M unfurls 'big umbrella'
The Kuala Lumpur High Court has denied Anwar Ibrahim's bid to suspend his ex-aide Yusoff Rawther's civil suit in relation to a sexual assault allegation.
Ordering that the trial proceeds on June 16 as scheduled, the court further ruled that the eight constitutional questions the prime minister sought to refer to the Federal Court did not meet the required threshold.
Anwar has insisted that his bid to suspend the lawsuit was never about seeking personal immunity from litigation but 'concerns the integrity of our constitutional system and the need to ensure that high public office is protected from litigation that may be strategically timed, politically motivated, or institutionally disruptive'.
Adding to the prime minister's list of political headaches, his age-defying nemesis, Dr Mahathir Mohamad - now well into his wizard years - has unveiled another grand scheme to unseat his former apprentice and 'save the Malays'.
The politician, who is just a month away from blowing out 100 birthday candles, unveiled a new Malay secretariat committee - pitched as a 'big umbrella' for the community.
HIGHLIGHTS
Daim's dynasty under fire, his widow fires back
The MACC has secured approval to seize Daim Zainuddin's Ilham Tower once again, much to the frustration of the late former finance minister's lawyers, who have accused the commission of 'playing musical chairs with the law'.
This development follows closely after the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted permission for the commission to seize seven properties belonging to Daim's family.
Among the assets seized through an ex parte application are three luxury homes in London and a bank account reportedly valued at RM758.2 million.
Daim's widow Na'imah Abdul Khalid has vowed to challenge the seizure and 'to not bow down to bullies'.
'A line has been crossed. If we do not resist, there may soon be no lines left at all, then no Malaysian will be safe from the reach of unchecked power,' she emphasised.
HIGHLIGHTS
Rafizi in green, trading blows with Anwar?
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim has expressed a desire to see former PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli go head-to-head with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in the next general election.
He has urged PAS to make every effort to court Rafizi - who recently resigned as economy minister - and nominate him to contest the prime minister's parliamentary seat in Tambun, Perak.
The ex-law minister also encouraged the Islamist party to approach former PKR vice-president Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, suggesting that he contest in Bentong, which is DAP MP Young Syefura Othman's seat.
Both Rafizi and Nik Nazm resigned as ministers after failing to defend their respective party positions in the PKR polls.
Previously, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan clarified that while the party has no plans to recruit the two leaders into Perikatan Nasional, it would not oppose their cooperation with the opposition bloc in Parliament.
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The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Rafizi: Refile charges without further delay
Day in court: Najib arriving at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex. — Bernama PETALING JAYA: As Datuk Seri Najib Razak hails as relief the temporary discharge of his money laundering case involving RM27mil, a lawmaker urges swift refiling of the charges. Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli urged the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to clarify how it would refile the charges involving RM27mil from SRC International Sdn Bhd against the former prime minister without further delay. Rafizi made the call following the High Court granting Najib a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) order for all three charges in the case. A DNAA releases an accused from a charge without clearing them of the offence, meaning they can still be prosecuted later. Rafizi said it was unacceptable that, despite Najib being charged in 2019, the trial has yet to begin due to the prosecution's failure to complete the required documentation. 'I urge the prosecution to refile the charges as soon as possible and prepare the necessary documents so the case can proceed,' the former Economy Minister said in a statement. While acknowledging Najib's right to seek a discharge, Rafizi questioned the prolonged delay, especially as the former was already serving a prison sentence in another case involving SRC International funds. The AGC in an immediate response to the development said it will examine and consider all aspects before taking any further action on the case. The AGC said there were some documents which are material for the current SRC International trial, and the prosecution has no choice but to wait until the relevant material documents were obtained after the 1MDB trial proceedings are completed. 'It should be emphasised that the material documents are already available but are being used as evidence in the ongoing 1MDB trial,' the AGC said. 'The prosecution has requested time to gather all relevant material documents to be presented as evidence and testimony in the second SRC trial. This delay is not intentional but is to ensure that the integrity of the documents as evidence in the trial is always maintained. It said the case was postponed several times namely due to the Movement Control Order linked to the Covid-19 pandemic, requests by Najib's counsel and the prosecution as the documents was used in the then ongoing first SRC case and the currently ongoing 1MDB case. 'This department emphasises that the allegations by certain parties that this department carries out 'defective prosecution' are completely unfounded. This department always maintains the highest level and quality in line with expectations of the people. 'This department remains committed to upholding the rule of law and will continue to carry out its responsibilities under the Federal Constitution with integrity, fairness and respect for the judicial process,' it said. Meanwhile, Najib's lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client welcomed the court's decision, noting that it reduced the number of active cases against him. 'He's very happy and can now concentrate on the 1MDB trial, which is set for submissions in October,' Shafee told reporters after the court granted the DNAA order. Shafee explained that the AGC cannot appeal the DNAA but may choose to refile the case. 'But we hope they don't,' he added. With the DNAA order, Najib now faces only one active criminal trial – the RM2.28bil 1MDB case, scheduled to resume in October. Najib was acquitted from the 1MDB audit tampering case in March 2023, and a DNAA in the RM6.6bil IPIC-related case last November. He is currently serving a prison sentence for his conviction in the RM42mil SRC International graft case.
Focus Malaysia
2 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Ex-MACC boss: 'Bossku's DNAA is a failure of prosecutorial governance that demands immediate reform'
THE recent decision by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to grant a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) to Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the SRC International money laundering case has reignited urgent concerns regarding the integrity, professionalism and accountability of prosecutorial decisions in Malaysia. Filed in 2019 under then attorney-general (AG) Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, the charges involved RM27 mil under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2020 (AMLA). Yet, as of 2025, the prosecution has acknowledged it is still not prepared to proceed. This is more than a delay – it is a failure of prosecutorial governance that demands immediate reform. Why this matters? Why charge if the case isn't ready? Prosecutions should only be brought forward when sufficient, admissible evidence is available and the prosecution is trial-ready. Anything less violates due process and undermines public trust in the legal system. What happened under two successive AGs? Under the tenure of Tan Sri Idrus Harun and Tan Sri Ahmad Terriruddin Mohd Salleh, the case stalled with no meaningful review or resolution, pointing to a breakdown in internal accountability. Does this violate constitutional rights? Yes. The prolonged delay infringes Article 5(1) – the right to a fair and expeditious trial – and Article 8(1) of the Federal Constitution which guarantees equality before the law. Selective delays and prolonged inaction are constitutionally indefensible. What does a DNAA mean? A DNAA is neither an acquittal nor a conviction – it suspends proceedings indefinitely, leaving both the accused and the public in legal and moral limbo without resolution or closure. What must be done Under the leadership of Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, the AG's Chambers (AGC) must take bold, decisive steps to restore institutional credibility and uphold the rule of law by: Ensuring all future charges are based on sufficient, admissible evidence and are trial-ready from the outset. Institutionalise internal review mechanisms to monitor and resolve long-pending or high-profile cases. Drive critical reform: separate the roles of AG and public prosecutor to eliminate conflicts of interest and strengthen prosecutorial independence. A justice system that works – not one that waits Justice cannot be charged today, delayed for years and then justified later. For public confidence in the legal system to be sustained, justice must be transparent, efficient and independent. Malaysia cannot afford a justice system where high-profile cases are charged for headlines but never tried in court. This is not the time for institutional silence. This is the time for action. Reform must begin with a professional, principled and prepared prosecutorial authority – and the AG must lead that charge without fear or favour. – June 21, 2025 Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad was the former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner. The views expressed are solely of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
A necessary initiative for unity
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