AGC seeks to join contempt case against govt officials, new KL Tower operators; hearing on June 5

• Judge Roz Mawar Rozain has fixed next Thursday (June 5) to hear the ex parte application which the AGC is expected to also submit. She directed parties to file their written submissions on Tuesday (June 3).

KUALA LUMPUR (May 29): The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) told the High Court it wants to be heard in a contempt case filed by former KL Tower operator Hydroshoppe Sdn Bhd and Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn Bhd against government officials and the new KL Tower operators. The case will be heard on June 5, 2025.

The case is ex parte, meaning only Hydroshoppe and Menara KL are involved at this stage without informing the other parties yet.

Before the case can move forward, they must get the court’s permission (leave) to start committal proceedings. At that point, the AGC can oppose it in an inter partes hearing, where both sides are heard.

Judge Roz Mawar Rozain has fixed next Thursday (June 5) to hear the ex parte application which the AGC is expected to also submit. She directed parties to file their written submissions on Tuesday (June 3).

Hydroshoppe and Menara KL’s lawyers—Vinayak Sri Ram, Hayden Tan, Elani Mazlan and David Wong from Rosli Dahlan Saravana Partnership—met with Roz Mawar on Thursday. Senior federal counsel Shazreen Nadia Zulkifli and lawyers from LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd and Service Master (M) Sdn Bhd were also present.

One minister, three civil servants, two companies named as defendants

It’s still unclear whom Hydroshoppe and Menara KL are targeting in their ex parte committal application, as the official documents haven't been served to the AGC and are not publicly available.

However, The Edge understands—based on a supporting affidavit filed on April 25—that the application could be against Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, who acted for the government, and Federal Land Commissioner Datuk Muhammad Azmi Mohd Zain.

Six others named in the supporting affidavit include Dang Wangi police chief ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman and Communications Ministry secretary general Datuk Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa.

In the affidavit, Hydroshoppe managing director Datuk Abdul Hamid Shaikh Abdul Razak Shaikh said he wants contempt of court action taken against the individuals named, as he believes they interfered with the legal process in a way that could harm Hydroshoppe and Menara KL’s case.

In April 2025, Hydroshoppe and Menara KL’s lawyers said they were instructed to start legal action against those responsible for the forced takeover of KL Tower, including the communications minister and the Federal Land Commissioner, who sealed off the tower after the Ministry of Communications announced its temporary closure just past midnight on April 17. The ministry said Menara KL’s ongoing operations were unauthorised, and the closure was to protect visitors and allow the new operator to start maintenance and upgrades. KL Tower reopened on April 26, 2025.

Hydroshoppe and Menara KL’s committal proceedings action follows their lawsuit against LSH Capital and the Malaysian government challenging the KL Tower concession award to LSH Capital.

They are seeking RM1 billion in damages and want the KL Tower concession returned to them. In response, LSH Capital called the claims baseless and filed a countersuit. The government and Fahmi said Hydroshoppe must prove they suffered real losses and that there was no wrongdoing on their part. Fahmi also said the government has the right to decide who manages the KL Tower.

On April 8, the High Court rejected Hydroshoppe’s request to temporarily stop the concession award to LSH Capital. The case is now expected to be appealed at the Court of Appeal on May 30.

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