THE Guinness World Records may not track or have a category for three former premiers turning out on the same day in court for corruption cases.
However, the coincidental simultaneous appearance of PM6 Datuk Seri Najib Razak, PM8 Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and PM9 Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex yesterday (Aug 27) is viewed by the media and political analysts as a striking unprecedented national event.
“Unusual Day in Court as Three Ex-Malaysian PMs Face Separate Legal Proceedings” – headlined Singapore Straits Times as Bossku (moniker for Najib) turned out for his on-going hearing of a US$5.64 bil (approx. RM23,1 bil) civil suit filed by 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) against him and five other former 1MDB directors.
Rival news portal Channel NewsAsia (CAN) scripted the unfolding court drama with the heading “A Rare Convergence of 3 Former Malaysian PMs at Court Building, All Facing Separate Legal Battles” as Ismail Sabri was charged with failing to fully declare his assets to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The 66-year-old former UMNO vice-president who was the first to arrive in court at 8.35am is accused of intentionally submitting a written asset declaration that failed to comply with a notice issued under Section 36(1)(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
The omitted items allegedly include millions in local and foreign currencies (such as ringgit, Singapore dollars, US dollars, Euros and Japanese yen) alongside physical valuables like five 1kg gold bars, a silver bar and a gold coin”.
The Bera MP who holds the record for shortest premiership stint of only 15 months (Aug 21, 2021 to Nov 24, 2022) pleaded not guilty at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court and was granted bail of RM300,000 which was settled by his son with the case scheduled for mention on Sept 29.
Najib was next to arrive followed by Bersatu president Muhyiddin who faces four charges of abusing his position to obtain RM232.5 million in gratification for his party and three money laundering charges involving RM200 mil.
The 79-year-old who administered the country via the so-called backdoor Perikatan Nasional (PN) government from March 2020 to August 2021 continued his trial on seven charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme, an initiative introduced to support businesses and stimulate the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trial has seen a string of witnesses testify on projects, payments and companies allegedly linked to the programme.
Of the trio, probably the most seasoned of them all is Najib – the former 10-term Pekan MP who reigned from April 2009 to May 2018 – who is currently serving a prison sentence since August 2022 following his conviction in the SRC International case though he later had its jail term and fine reduced by the Pardons Board.
Editor’s Note: This entails a prison term reduction from 12 years to six years (expected to end in August 2028) while the fine is reduced from RM210 mil to RM50 mil (with an extra year in prison if unpaid).
Moreover, the 73-year-old Bossku was convicted in late 2025/early 2026 on abuse of power and money laundering charges in the main 1MDB criminal trial following which he was sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison and a fine of RM11.4 bil.
Editor’s Note: While Bossku has active appeals moving through the appellate courts, the latest jail sentence was ordered to run concurrently for the 25 charges with the prison sentence to begin after he completes his SRC sentence in 2028.
As it is, Najib continues to attend hearings for massive civil suits such as the on-going US$5.64 bil suit brought by 1MDB and its subsidiaries to recover misappropriated funds
Elsewhere, he has also pursued legal applications and judicial reviews concerning an alleged royal addendum order for house arrest. – Aug 28, 2026
Main image credit: Sinar Harian
