Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has taken steps to halt the progression of a civil trial related to a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him in 2021 by his former research officer, Muhammed Yusoff Rawther. Legal representatives confirmed that a formal application to stay the trial was submitted late last night.
The request comes in the wake of a Kuala Lumpur High Court ruling, which declined to elevate eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court. These questions centered on whether a sitting prime minister possesses immunity from civil litigation—a matter that Anwar's legal team argues holds significant constitutional weight.
Following the High Court’s decision, Anwar’s legal team promptly submitted a notice of appeal to the Court of Appeal. The appeal, filed under Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution and Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964, aims to challenge the High Court’s refusal to refer the constitutional matters to the nation’s highest court.
Counsel for the Prime Minister emphasized that the appeal seeks to uphold the integrity of the judiciary by avoiding a scenario in which court proceedings are conducted based on legal grounds that might later be ruled unconstitutional. The application to stay proceedings, according to Anwar’s legal team, is intended to prevent any premature steps in the trial that could undermine the constitutional issues in dispute.
The eight questions raised in the appeal were described as neither academic nor hypothetical. Instead, they reportedly touch upon critical interpretations of several key provisions in the Federal Constitution—Articles 5(1), 8(1), 39, 40, and 43. Among the concerns highlighted are the legal boundaries surrounding executive immunity, the potential for politically motivated lawsuits, and the protection of executive functions from undue interference.
Case management for the stay application is expected to take place virtually later today, during which a hearing date will be determined.
This legal development adds another layer to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the lawsuit, which has been politically sensitive since it was first filed. Anwar’s legal team maintains that allowing the trial to proceed without resolving the constitutional questions could set a troubling precedent for how civil suits against sitting national leaders are handled.
Information Source: The Vibes
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