The rank is reserved for senior and highly respected lawyers and has historically been bestowed upon barristers, though the process opened up to British solicitors in 1996.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has allowed him access to his passport from Sept 6 to 12.

Jonathan Laidlaw is appealing against the July 21 decision disallowing his application to represent Najib Razak in his SRC International appeal.

The judge says Jonathan Laidlaw has failed to show that he has more experience than the local advocates and solicitors in Malaysia.

It says Jonathan Laidlaw, while an experienced lawyer in the UK, does not have the special qualifications or experience in the Malaysian legal system needed for the appeal.

Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, once an Umno politician himself, says one of his immediate family members is still an active politician and a divisional leader in the party.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul says Jonathan Laidlaw does not possess any more knowledge than a local lawyer and does not fulfil the language requirements.

His lead counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah also says that Jonathan Laidlaw has been listed as one of Britain's 500 most influential individuals.

Jonathan Laidlaw is seeking to be admitted to appear as Najib’s lead counsel in the SRC appeals at the Federal Court and all other related causes or matters.

If his application is unsuccessful, he can appeal to the Federal Court.

The court has also set March 15 and 16 to hear Najib’s appeal to adduce new evidence and Feb 25 for the main appeal against his SRC International conviction and sentence.

Muhammad Shafee Abdullah also says that time will be needed to translate the notes and court documents to English for the Queen's Counsel.