PN steps up pressure for Anwar to resign, probe against senior judge

Summary

• Muhyiddin renews calls for PM Anwar to resign over alleged interference in judicial appointments involving a senior judge accused of integrity issues.

• PN chair warns that allegations signal a serious erosion of judicial independence, urging for probe and reforms to protect public confidence in the judiciary.

• Bersatu president argues that Anwar’s resignation is needed to pave the way for an independent RCI, stressing that integrity must remain central in judicial appointments.

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has reiterated calls for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to resign, following allegations of interference in judicial appointments involving a senior judge accused of integrity issues.

Muhyiddin said the allegations, supposedly raised during a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) meeting, point to a serious erosion of judicial independence and public confidence.

He stressed that the allegations must be investigated while implementing corrective measures in the judicial appointment process to ensure overall trust in the judiciary as the upholder of justice.

“Of greater concern is that these allegations are closely tied to a larger issue, namely allegations of executive interference in judicial appointments involving the prime minister, who has a vested interest in a serious court case,” the former premier said in a statement today.

“This raises a reasonable concern that the prime minister will also not prioritise integrity as the main consideration in judicial appointments. Personal interests are highly likely to override integrity as a factor.

“I fear that if integrity is no longer a key consideration in the appointment of judges, justice can be bought and sold,” he added.

As such, the Bersatu president argued that Anwar has a “moral responsibility” to resign, asserting that only then can an independent royal commission of inquiry (RCI) be established to investigate any misconduct in judicial appointments.

Care and integrity

Previously, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin called for Anwar to go on leave, framing the call as being consistent with an Istana Negara decree that judicial appointments must be handled with care and integrity.

The Defend the Judiciary Secretariat had also pushed for Anwar to relinquish his post immediately on the grounds that the prime minister has a conflict of interest in judiciary appointments.

The group, led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and backed by opposition figures, is also considering taking their grievances to the courts.

The potential legal action is understood to be aimed at questioning whether a prime minister embroiled in civil disputes can advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the appointment of judges.

One of the main cases involving Anwar is a civil lawsuit initiated by his former aide Yusoff Rawther, who accused the premier of sexual harassment.

Earlier, nine PKR lawmakers led by Rafizi Ramli called for an RCI as well as the Parliament Special Select Committee on reforms to probe the allegations of judicial interference, as well as accusations that a senior judge had interfered with the judiciary.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, however, asserted that PN is “not confident” in an RCI formed under the present conditions, as the commission would have to be formed based on the advice of the prime minister to the Agong.

In declaring PN’s non-support of Rafizi’s RCI call, Takiyuddin said backing the matter would be contradictory to the opposition’s stance urging for Anwar’s immediate resignation.

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