KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will appeal the High Court’s decision to reject his request for eight constitutional questions to be referred to the Federal Court, following a civil suit filed by his former research officer.
Speaking to reporters after proceedings today, Anwar’s lawyer Datuk Seri Rajasegaran Krishnan said the questions posed involved significant constitutional issues that extended beyond the individual facts of the case, the NST reported.
“They concern serious and unresolved constitutional issues, including the protection of executive functions, the risk of politically motivated litigation, and the scope of Articles 5(1), 8(1), 39, 40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution.
“This matter involves far-reaching constitutional implications that warrant authoritative clarification by the apex court.
“The constitutional questions raised go beyond the facts of this case. They touch on the limits of the legal process, the dignity of high public office, and the structural safeguards embedded in our Constitution,” he was quoted as saying.
Rajasegaran added that the legal team would also seek a stay of trial proceedings to protect the appeal process.
“We will also be applying for a stay of the trial proceedings to preserve the integrity of the appeal process and to ensure that the defendant (Anwar) is not prematurely subjected to proceedings that may ultimately be held to be constitutionally impermissible,” he said.
Earlier in court, Judge Roz Mawar Rozain dismissed Anwar’s application, stating that the issues raised did not satisfy the constitutional threshold under Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution or Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
“From a judicial perspective, the proposed questions do not appear to meet the threshold of genuine constitutional controversy,” she ruled.
The legal questions stem from a lawsuit filed in 2021 by Muhammed Yusoff Rawther, who alleged a sexual assault incident involving Anwar, which he claims occurred seven years ago. The civil suit was lodged prior to Anwar’s appointment as prime minister in November 2022.
The trial is scheduled to begin on June 16. — June 4, 2025