Former Malaysia PM Ismail Sabri’s court date delayed after hospitalisation, but trial timing questioned

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Malaysian prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s was initially set to be charged in court on Aug 7 over a case involving declaration of assets, making him the latest top political figure to come under legal scrutiny.

However, the hearing has now been adjourned to Aug 27 after Ismail Sabri was admitted to hospital ahead of his scheduled court appearance – delaying a prosecution that puts Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s reform agenda back into the spotlight.

​High Court judge Suzana Hussin granted the adjournment on Aug 7 after Ismail Sabri’s lawyer, Amer Hamzah Arshad, informed the court that the former premier had been admitted to the National Heart Institute (IJN) to undergo a procedure.

​Speaking to reporters after visiting Ismail Sabri at IJN, Amer Hamzah emphasised that his client remains determined to contest the charges once his health stabilises.

“He definitely wants to clear his name, but the main thing on his mind right now is his health,” Amer Hamzah said.

Ismail Sabri was previously scheduled to undergo a pacemaker procedure after Friday prayers on Aug 7.

In February 2025, he was rushed to hospital after he was found unconscious due to high blood pressure.

The adjournment came days after the government declassified a report into losses at Tabung Haji, Malaysia’s Muslim pilgrimage funds.

Ismail Sabri, 66, was expected to face multiple charges linked to alleged spending irregularities under the Keluarga Malaysia initiative during his brief administration from August 2021 to November 2022.

​A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation previously uncovered approximately RM170 million (S$52 million) in foreign currencies and 16kg of gold bars worth RM7 million during raids on premises linked to several former aides.

In a separate civil forfeiture action, the High Court ordered nearly RM169 million of the seized cash forfeited to the government after it went uncontested. The forfeiture proceedings are separate from the criminal prosecution.

​​Ismail Sabri has denied any wrongdoing. Moreover, the investigation did little to keep Ismail Sabri off the campaign trail.

Lawyer of Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Amer Hamzah Arshad (centre) speaks to journalist at Kuala Lumpur Court Complex on Aug 7.

PHOTO: EPA

In the run-up to the Negeri Sembilan state election, the former premier criss-crossed the state, with posts on his social media accounts showing him campaigning in Pertang, Bahau, Palong, Juasseh, Johol, and Gemencheh, supporting BN candidates.

Questions over timing of Ismail Sabri’s court case

Analysts said the sequence of the events is likely to invite scrutiny following BN’s improved fortunes in the recent state elections, led by its dominant component party UMNO – of which Ismail Sabri is a division chief.

Azmil Tayeb, visiting senior fellow at ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, told The Straits Times that the timing was bound to invite public scrutiny.

“People have all the right to be sceptical looking at the timing of these developments since it is at the same time as UMNO making big strides in the last two state elections,” he said.

Though it can be seen as “politically motivated”, Azmil said the case should be judged on its own merits and the independence of the courts.

In Johor, contesting without its federal unity government partner, BN won 48 of Johor’s 56 state seats. It then teamed with opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) in Negeri Sembilan state election to secure a combined 25 seats in the 36-member assembly.

Despite that, Azmil noted that the prosecution is unlikely to significantly alter ties within the unity government because Ismail Sabri no longer holds dominant influence within UMNO. The Bera MP has seen his internal standing diminish since his premiership, never holding the UMNO presidency

However, he emphasised that the government must demonstrate that the prosecution was driven by evidence rather than politics.

“Yes, it is. It’s a curious timing. On one hand to land a blow against UMNO and on the other hand to galvanise its fragmented, jaded base,” he said.

“The government must show that this is not selective persecution against a party that’s on the rise now. Otherwise, it is seen as an act of desperation to rally Pakatan Harapan supporters, many of whom are disillusioned now,” he added.

​Anwar has consistently dismissed claims that corruption investigations are politically motivated, maintaining that enforcement agencies operate independently and that no individual, regardless of office or political affiliation, is beyond the reach of the law.

Ismail Sabri, formerly an UMNO vice-president, became Malaysia’s ninth prime minister after Muhyiddin Yassin resigned when he lost his parliamentary majority amid months of political turmoil.

He led a fragile coalition government through the final phase of the Covid-19 pandemic before calling the November 2022 general election, which ended in a hung parliament.

The unprecedented result paved the way for Anwar to assemble a unity government backed by BN, together with parties from Sabah and Sarawak.