ALL corruption cases registered at the Kuala Lumpur High Court will be transferred to a newly designated Special Corruption High Court from 1 April, in a move aimed at expediting proceedings and improving case management.
In a circular, Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Seri Hashim Hamzah confirmed that corruption trials filed within the High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur will now be heard exclusively by the specialised court.
“At present, all trials of cases involving corruption that are registered in the High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, will be heard in the Special Corruption High Court, High Court of Malaya,” he said.
Corruption cases filed in other High Courts across Malaya will continue to be heard at their respective locations.
New classifications will also be introduced, with cases coded as 45R for corruption trials and 45R(A) for those involving public servants.
The directive includes transitional provisions allowing ongoing cases already registered in any High Court to proceed without transfer.
“The establishment of the Special Corruption High Court, High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, is intended to create a special court within the High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, to hear cases involving corruption that are registered in the High Court of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur,” he said.
He added that the initiative could be expanded beyond the capital. “However, if there is a need in the future, the establishment of the Special Corruption High Court as a special court to hear corruption cases is also proposed to be expanded to other High Courts of Malaya,” he said.
The specialised court is designed to prioritise corruption trials and improve efficiency in resolving such cases.
“Through the establishment of this Special Corruption High Court, trials of corruption cases can also be given priority, thereby strengthening the administration of the justice system and reinforcing the judiciary’s efforts in supporting the government’s agenda to comprehensively combat corruption,” he said.
Earlier, Chief Justice Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh indicated that the judiciary intends to expand the model nationwide, eventually establishing at least one such High Court in every state, including Sabah and Sarawak, following encouraging results at the lower court level.
The creation of the Special Corruption High Court follows the appointment of Justice Noor Ruwena Md Nurdin to the role and a formal announcement by the Federal Court Chief Registrar’s Office in January.
The move aligns with a Royal Decree by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, delivered during the opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament on 19 January, in which he underscored the need for experienced judges and a dedicated judicial pathway to ensure corruption cases are resolved swiftly. - March 30, 2026
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