Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim wants his appeal on the striking out of subpoenas issued to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor to testify in his sodomy trial to be disposed of before the court hears submissions from the prosecution and the defence.

"We have appealed against the decision of Kuala Lumpur High Court judge (Mohamad) Zabidin (Mohd Diah) to strike out the subpoenas served to Najib and Rosmah.

"See, I don't want to delay the case any further... but the Court of Appeal should hear my appeal first. In other cases, the appeals are disposed of quickly," said Anwar.

The Permatang Pauh MP also questioned the credibility of the judiciary, saying that the delay in hearing his appeal only reflected the unfair persecution against him.

On Oct 6, Justice Zabidin struck out the subpoena on Najib and Rosmah following arguments they were not material and relevant witnesses to the trial and Anwar’s defence.

This matter is still on appeal as they filed the notice on Oct 9. However, Zabidin has fixed Nov 23-24 for oral submissions.

Moreover, Anwar also criticised Court of Appeal judge Abdul Malik Ishak for having written comments in a judgment related to the Sodomy II trial that were deemed disparaging of the politician and his lawyers.

“The Federal Court has expunged that reference but my point is Malik Ishak had to resort to this because he has a major plagiarism case against him... he was able to appease his political masters and that had compromises the independence of the judiary,” he said.

azlan On Oct 14, Bukit Gelugor DAP MP Karpal Singh submitted a parliamentary motion -  supported by close to 60 Pakatan Rakyat MPs - calling for a tribunal against the judge for alleged plagiarism.

The case against the judge was first reported in 2000 and had created a row between Singapore and Malaysia.

Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Rais Yatim recently admitted that a complaint  had been lodged in 2000, but added that he did not the know the outcome as he had left the portfolio in 2004.

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