JUDGMENT

Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh J:

[1] Sometime in October 2019, the applicant came to know from the media report that the Syariah High Court Judge, Federal Territory ("the Syariah Court"), had granted leave ("Leave Order") to one SM Faisal bin Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin Kamal ("SM Faisal") to commence contempt proceedings against the applicant at the Syariah Court.

[2] The applicant, who is a member of Parliament, was unaware of any contempt proceedings initiated against her. According to her, despite the wide media coverage, she was never served with the leave order purportedly issued by the Syariah Court.

[3] Curious, the applicant wrote to the Syariah Court Judge on 29 November 2019 to inquire whether there was any such Leave Order against her. The applicant also requested that the relevant cause papers, if any, be served on her to enable her to seek legal advice.

[4] The applicant was eventually served with the cause papers by the solicitors acting for SM Faisal, Messrs Akberdin & Co, on 10 December 2019, almost three months since the leave order was granted. The applicants in the contempt proceedings at the Syariah Court ("the contempt proceedings") were SM Faisal and one Puan Sri Zaleha binti Ismail.