The court held that a stay of criminal proceedings requires exceptional circumstances and emphasized the public interest in expeditious trials.

[1] The respondent is the immediate former Prime Minister of Malaysia who is currently facing seven charges before the High Court, ie (i) one charge under s 23 of the MACC Act ; (ii) three charges under s 409 of the Penal Code and (iii) three charges for offences under s 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti- Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 ("the AMLATFA proceedings").

[2] The present appeals emanate from the decision of the Court of Appeal granting an order of stay of proceedings and consequently stopping the commencement of a trial against the respondent at the High Court pending the disposal of his appeals to this Court. Dissatisfied with the decision of the Court of Appeal granting stay, the appellant filed the present appeals.

[3] The three appeals pending before this Court filed by the respondent relate to:

a. his failure to secure a "gag order" restraining publication by members of the public on matters pertaining to his prosecution and trial;

b. his failure to secure documents other than those provided under s 51A of the Criminal Procedure Code (" CPC ") prior to the commencement of trial although 32 bundles (7,000 pages) of documents had already been served to him by the prosecution in compliance with its statutory duty under s 51A of the ; and