Overview

• The High Court ruled on June 4 that a sitting prime minister has no constitutional or statutory immunity for private acts before taking office.
• Muhammed Yusoff Rawther’s 2020 civil lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct in 2018 will move forward with a full hearing set for June 16.
• Anwar Ibrahim has denied the allegations and faces a 30-day deadline to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal.
• Judge Roz Mawar Rozain found the eight constitutional questions put forward by Anwar’s legal team to be abstract and unsuitable for immediate referral to the Federal Court.
• Rawther’s ongoing trial for drug trafficking and possessing imitation firearms adds to the spotlight on Malaysia’s judiciary and its commitment to accountability.