Two decades after six top judges were suspended then sacked for insubordination, sparking the judiciary's biggest scandal, the government has offered ex-gratia payments to surviving judges and their families in an attempt at closure.
Three of the surviving judges rejected the payment while two judges, and the family of one who has since died, accepted the money, believed to be sums of between M$900,000 (HK$2.16 million) and M$1.5 million.
The money is compensation, though not an official apology, for loss of income they suffered for being unceremoniously removed from their Supreme Court posts in 1988.
They were sacked after hearing a legal challenge by opponents of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who won the presidency of the country's ruling coalition, United Malays National Organisation (Umno) by just 43 votes.
The judges, and the family who accepted the payment, have been required to sign a deed absolving the government of all liabilities.
Salleh Abbas, 81, who was the head of the judiciary at the time, and two others had told the government last week they rejected the offer.
'We would prefer a full and open inquiry into the tragedy and compensation if necessary as a better way to close the chapter,' he said.