Malaysia’s Muhyiddin Yassin suffers fresh legal blow in corruption case

Muhyiddin’s legal woes follow a tumultuous year for his political bloc, with some lawmakers shifting allegiance to PM Anwar Ibrahim

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Former Malaysian prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin leaves court after a hearing into his case last month. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:32pm, 11 Sep 2024Updated: 1:42pm, 11 Sep 2024

A court in Malaysia has dismissed former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s application to review corruption charges filed against him, in a fresh blow for the opposition leader who is seen as one of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s biggest rivals.

Appeal Court Judge Azizah Nawawi said on Wednesday the five-member panel would not pursue Muhyiddin’s case as the earlier bench had the jurisdiction to review the High Court decision, she said. Wednesday’s decision was unanimous, she added.

Muhyiddin was seeking to have four abuse of power charges dropped amid mounting legal troubles. The 77-year-old had applied for a judicial review of a separate appeal court decision to overturn his acquittal by a High Court from the charges last year, which effectively reinstated his criminal case.

“I am disappointed by the decision,” Muhyiddin told reporters outside the courthouse in administrative capital of Putrajaya. His lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik said they would study the judgment and see what other legal avenues were available.

A poster featuring Perikatan Nasional leader Muhyiddin Yassin and PAS leader Hadi Abdul Awang near a polling station in Selangor during state elections last year. Photo: Bloomberg

The ruling is another disappointment for the opposition. Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional bloc he leads have been beset with troubles this year – ranging from failing to retain a seat in an August by-election to seeing some of its lawmakers switch allegiance to Anwar.