This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on January 7, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has fixed Feb 26, 2020 to hear leave applications by former deputy finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, ex-Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad and Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Sumaili Reduan to challenge compound notices issued on them by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The MACC is seeking to recover 1Malaysia Development Bhd-linked funds that Ahmad Maslan, Shahrir and Mohd Sumaili allegedly received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Ahmad Maslan, Shahrir and Mohd Sumaili filed separate applications for judicial review to challenge the compound notices, naming the MACC chief commissioner and the MACC as respondents.

Penang Umno liaison committee, along with Umno’s Batu, Labis, Indera Mahkota and Taiping divisions have, however, withdrawn their judicial review applications with a view to filing fresh ones.

This was revealed yesterday during case management before High Court Judge Datuk Nordin Hassan in his chambers.

Ahmad Maslan, Shahrir and Mohd Sumaili were represented by lawyers Shahrul Fazli Kamarulzaman and Mohd Haziq Razali. Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambali appeared for the MACC.

Shahrir, Ahmad Maslan and Mohd Sumaili, seeking leave to challenge the compound dated Oct 7, 2019, are also seeking a declaration that the chief commissioner and the MACC’s actions are ultra vires, illegal and hence should be declared null and void.

They are further seeking to quash the compound order and impose an injunction on the MACC from enforcing the compound.

The trio are also seeking a declaration that the chief commissioner’s action, as announced at the Oct 7, 2019 press conference, is premature, misleading and an abuse of public office, as well as damages to be assessed by the court.