KUALA LUMPUR: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has filed contempt proceedings against former Attorney-General Tan Sri Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, now a Federal Court judge, over allegations of concealing a royal addendum order related to his incarceration.
The application for leave to initiate contempt proceedings was filed on May 21 by legal firm Messrs. Shafee & Co., acting on behalf of Najib. The action stems from claims that Ahmad Terrirudin knowingly withheld the existence of an addendum order, purportedly issued by the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, that allowed Najib to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.
According to the legal team, the addendum order, dated 29 January 2024, was delivered to Najib through his son, Datuk Mohamad Nizar. The authenticity of the document was allegedly confirmed in writing by the Pahang Royal Council on 4 January 2025.
The legal firm asserts that the addendum order explicitly directed Ahmad Terrirudin to enforce the decree. However, despite being aware of its contents, the former attorney-general is accused of instructing his legal officers to mislead the High Court during proceedings by characterising Najib’s claims as unsubstantiated and speculative.
“Our client believes that by choosing to mislead the High Court, the former attorney-general has brought the administration of justice into disrepute,” the firm stated. “Given his current position as a Federal Court judge, it is crucial that he be given an opportunity to address these serious allegations and, if necessary, purge the contempt.”
The statement emphasised that as a public officer, Terrirudin had a legal duty to be fully transparent with the Court. It cited both Malaysian and international legal principles that require full disclosure of all relevant facts in judicial reviews.
“A deliberate failure to disclose such material undermines public confidence in the justice system and may amount to obstruction of justice,” the firm added.
Najib is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the troubled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Initially sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined RM210 million, his sentence was commuted in 2022 following a royal pardon request, reducing his term and financial penalty to six years and RM50 million respectively.
The filing of contempt proceedings raises fresh legal and constitutional questions over the interpretation and enforcement of royal decrees within Malaysia’s judicial framework, and may have broader implications for the transparency of the country’s legal institutions.–NST
