KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali became the first parliamentarian seeking to declassify the Auditor-General's report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), which is an "official secret".

The Selangor Mentri Besar is applying for leave from the High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) to initiate judicial review proceedings.

Speaking to reporters here after the filing of his court papers at the High Court registry, Mr Azmin, accompanied by his co-counsel R.Sivarasa, said he filed his application as Gombak MP.

Mr Azmin, whose lead counsel Tommy Thomas is now abroad, said it is their stand that "once you audit, the purpose is to disclose if there are any abuse of any financial part of the company."

In his application for leave, he named Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Razak, Auditor-General Ambrin Buang and the government as respondents.

Mr Azmin, who is also Parti Keadilan Rakyat's deputy president, is applying for a declaration that Datuk Seri Najib acted in conflict of interest in issuing a certificate under Section 2B of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972 to Ambrin directing him to classify the report as an "official secret".

He is asking for a declaration that the classification by Ambrin of the 1MDB report as an official secret under the OSA was unlawful and ultra vires the Federal Constitution, the OSA and the Audit Act 1957.

Mr Azmin also wants to get an order from the court compelling the respondents, officers or agents to declassify the 1MDB report pursuant to Section 2C of the OSA and to release it to the public.

Mr Azmin said he did not seek costs in respect of these proceedings being a matter of public interest.

In his statement, Mr Azmin said the 1MDB report was posted online by the Sarawak Report between July 6 and July 30, thereby destroying the basis for any continued confidentiality.

In his affidavit in support, Mr Azmin said the classification of the report which was done pursuant to Section 2B of the Official Secrets Act (OSA), is unprecedented.

In a test case filed on Aug 5, businessman Muhammad Zahid Md Arip, 50, applied to declassify the final audit report on 1MDB.