A Malaysian appellate court dismissed a preliminary objection raised by the Attorney General's office on April 8, 2026, allowing the Malaysian Bar Council's appeal to move forward in the high-profile case involving Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Senior federal counsel Ahmad Hanir Hambaly had raised the preliminary objection on behalf of the Attorney General, arguing that the Bar had filed a separate application seeking leave to commence judicial review of the AG's subsequent decision to take no further action in the Zahid case. The court rejected this objection, ruling that the Bar's appeal could proceed on its merits.
The Malaysian Bar has been challenging the Attorney General's decision related to the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Zahid in his corruption and money laundering trial. The case has drawn significant public attention given Zahid's senior position in the Malaysian government as Deputy Prime Minister.
The court's decision to allow the appeal to proceed represents a significant procedural step in what has become a closely watched legal battle over prosecutorial discretion and judicial oversight in Malaysia. Further hearings are expected to be scheduled as the substantive appeal moves forward.
