Sources said the former prime minister’s legal team had taken the stand that the matter will be rendered academic if a pending application to strike out the charges is allowed.
Earlier, Muhyiddin’s defence team had proposed that the transfer application be deferred until after the striking-out motion is heard.
However, that request was flatly refused by the team of prosecutors from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
The prosecution instead insisted that the transfer application be heard first.
“The defence team will now focus its attention on the striking-out application and discontinue the transfer move,” the source told FMT.
Justice K Muniandy was scheduled to hear the three transfer applications on July 10.
However, FMT understands that Muhyiddin’s solicitors, Chetan Jethwani & Co, had on Wednesday notified the deputy registrar in Muniandy’s court of their intention to withdraw the application, which the court has agreed to.
The parties will still appear before Muniandy on Monday, although Muhyiddin’s attendance has been dispensed with.
FMT has reached out to the defence team and senior deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin for comments.
In May, Muhyiddin’s lawyers filed three separate applications to transfer to the High Court seven charges he is facing on grounds they involve constitutional and complex legal issues.
The charges Muhyiddin is facing relate to the Jana Wibawa programme which was initiated by the Cabinet when he was in office.
Many of the projects were continued and approved during Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s time as prime minister.
The prosecution had filed an application for a joint trial of all seven charges before a single sessions court judge which the defence team disagreed with.
Meanwhile, Justice Jamil Hussin will hear the striking-out application on July 11.
Muhyiddin, 76, had filed the application on April 19 seeking an acquittal as the charges were defective and disclosed no offences were committed.
The abuse of power charges, framed under Section 23(1) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act, accuse Muhyiddin of using his position as then prime minister and Bersatu president to induce payment of RM232.5 million by three companies and an individual to his party between March 1, 2020, and Aug 20, 2021.
The companies are Bukhary Equity Sdn Bhd, Nepturis Sdn Bhd and Mamfor Sdn Bhd while the individual is businessman Azman Yusoff.
Muhyiddin is also charged with three counts of money laundering totalling RM200 million allegedly committed here and in Petaling Jaya.
Muhyiddin has also challenged the charges, claiming they were politically motivated.