A lawyer representing Shahnaz Abdul Majid has applied for a warrant of arrest against her estranged husband, Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib, for failing to attend a discussion on the disposal of joint matrimonial property worth billions of ringgit.

Mohd Rafie Shafie filed the application in the Syariah High Court in Kuala Lumpur following Abu Bekir's absence today.

NONE Shahnaz and Abu Bekir were to have discussed the disposal of joint matrimonial assets and mutaah (damages) today, after having filed separate divorce applications.

Abu Bekir's lawyer, Saadiah Din, told the court that her client was recuperating from surgery on his shoulder, performed in the United Kingdom on March 15.

Asked by Rafie for a medical certificate, which should have been extended to the plaintiff's counsel, Saadiah was unable to produce it.

Judge Abdul Walid Abu Hassan declined to issue the warrant of arrest, but warned Saadiah to advise Abu Bekir to abide by the court's procedures and to ensure her client's attendance in future.

Rafie, who is assisted by Akbardin Abdul Kadir, applied for the divorce proceedings to be transferred to the same High Court from the Syariah Lower Court. This was later allowed, by the registrar in the court registry.

The case was then fixed for mention before the Syariah High Court on May 11 for a hearing date to be set.

Abu Bekir, has filed a separate divorce application, citing irreconcilable differences, in the Syariah Lower Court.

He is the eldest son of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

'Abu Bekir twice asked me to withdraw case'

During today's procceding, Saadiah objected to the mutaah application, which was filed earlier this year, as the divorce hearing had yet to begin.

“It is a frivolous application by the plaintiff and it should be withdrawn,” she said.

Following this, Rafie agree to withdraw the application, with the liberty to file afresh.

“I want the court to also note that the defendant had made calls to my client to withdraw the case filed against him. I find it improper that he does not want to come to court,” Rafie said.

“He can come and do the wakallah (to appoint) a lawyer, but he does not want to come to court for the sulh (discussion), the divorce proceedings and today as well.”

Judge Abdul Walid then recorded the withdrawal of the application and noted he was willing to hear any application, even if it involved millions of ringgit.

NONE Outside the court, Shahnaz ( right ) told reporters that her estranged husband had called her twice, after she filed her divorce application, asking her to withdraw her case.

Shahnaz filed the mutaah application seeking RM300 million worth of assets that the couple had amassed together in their 19 years of marriage, as well as RM100 million in compensation.

She had cited irreconcilable differences, domestic violence and not having sex ( nafkah batin ) since 2001 as reasons for her divorce application.

Rafie told reporters outside court that he would make an application for the discovery of Abu Bekir's assets.

“I understand he owns 400 houses in United States and United Kingdom and countless properties in Malaysia. The discovery will help us ascertain the assets owned by Abu Bekir,” he said.