The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today dismissed applications from Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali and former Umno member Zahid Md Arip to declassify the auditor-general's report on 1MDB.

Justice Kamaluddin Md Said ruled that Azmin and Zahid have no locus standi (legal standing) to get the document declassified.

The judge further ruled that Azmin was a stranger to the judicial review application.

The 1MDB report was prepared for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), not for it to be made public, Justice Kamaluddin ruled.

He said the report was also not made under Article 107(1) of the Federal Constitution, where it is required to be tabled before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and then released in Parliament.

Both applications were dismissed with no order on costs.

Justice Kamaludin said Azmin (photo) did not state in his application that his legal right has been affected or that such right has been infringed by decision of the auditor-general to classify the final audit report on 1MDB as "Rahsia" (confidential), in the sense that the said decision had altered his rights or obligations or deprived him of the benefits which he had enjoyed.

"The applicant has failed to establish that his legal rights have been affected by the said decision (to classify the report under OSA).

"I have considered the status of the 1MDB report. From the auditor-general's explanation, it is clear the audit report is for the PAC and it is for the purpose of PAC completing its report.

"It is my opinion that the said report does not require compliance of Article 107 (1) of the Federal Constitution because the said report does not fall within the provision of Article 106," Justice Kamaludin said.

Based on this, and on the facts and law applicable, the judge said Azmin was not entitled to obtain the reliefs he sought in this judicial review application.

'No evidence against the prime minister'

On Zahid's application, Justice Kamaludin said there was no evidence or proof against the prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) in respect of financial impropriety.

"The allegations are not true and if they are not true, there is no reason for Zahid to correct what he had written and published in a coffee table book, if true and maintainable."

Hence, the judge said, as with Azmin's application, Zahid has no legal standing to make this application.

"The applicants (Azmin and Zahid) are total strangers to the decision by the auditor-general," he said.

Commenting the decision, Azmin said he was disappointed, pointing out that if he, as the Gombak MP, did not have the legal standing to initiate the action, then who would have such standing.

He said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak admitted yesterday that there were problems of governance in 1MDB and ordered a thorough investigation to be made.

Azmin asked why, therefore, have reports on 1MDB been classified as confidential if the government was interested in the results of the investigation.

"I will continue to go on the ground to explain the 1MDB matter.

"At the same time, I will consult with my lawyers as to whether to appeal in public interest," he said.

Azmin was represented by senior lawyer Tommy Thomas and Ganesan Nethi, while Zahid was represented by Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla.