COMMENT | The red carpet was rolled out in Rome, Paris and Rio de Janeiro to welcome Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on his three-nation tour to improve bilateral relations and boost trade.

But as soon as he set foot in Rome, on July 1, dark clouds were already gathering over Putrajaya.

At the heart of the matter was the public outrage over the apparent lack of urgency by the PM, to name the replacement of the now-retired chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.