Muhyiddin, AG must comment on judicial interference issue, says Anwar

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on those in high-ranking executive positions to provide an explanation or appropriate response, to dispel public doubt on possible judicial interference in high-profile cases.

"I welcome the statement by Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat that there will be no interference from her part [the judiciary] in high-profile cases in the country.

"We are also waiting for and are demanding further clarification from former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin when he himself revealed that there was an attempt to contact him to interfere in court affairs in high profile cases," Anwar said in a press release on Saturday (Jan 15).

"This is because there is public doubt and suspicion as to whether the executive is interfering in judicial affairs even though we acknowledge the existence of judges who are firm and obedient to the law.

"In a similar context, the Attorney General must also give a firm response," Anwar added.

In a speech on Friday (Jan 14), Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas’ made a direct reference to the remark by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In her response shortly after, Tengku Maimum said that the Malaysian judiciary remains impartial and there was no outside interference in court cases.

Muhyiddin, speaking at a televised event before his resignation as prime minister in August last year, had claimed that some individuals had been "asking for help" in relation to their criminal cases in court.