Anwar unlikely to step down despite judicial appointments controversy

By Phlip Rodrigues

The so-called judicial crisis appears to be gathering momentum with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim under intense scrutiny.

The situation looks grim. There are serious allegations that the prime minister may have stepped on hallowed ground and muddied it, in terms of judicial appointments.

Critics question why Anwar became allegedly involved in the affairs of the judiciary. He has no business and little role to play at all in the appointment of top judges, they argue.

Does he not know that the executive, the judiciary and the legislature are distinctly separate branches of government? Is he courting trouble by blurring this clear delineation of power?

Some have even stridently called for a royal commission of inquiry to probe these serious allegations which, critics claim, could roil the country and bring about Anwar’s inevitable downfall.

This controversy erupted after former Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat retired on 2 July. Before she stepped down from her position, many had called for her service and the Court of Appeal president’s to be extended.

Many want Tengku Maimun to stay on because she is seen as a fearless judge and defender of judicial independence.

But all in vain. Anwar is either unaware or refuses to acknowledge that there is a crisis brewing that could cut short the political life of his “Madani” (civil and trustworthy) government. 

Never one to miss an opportunity, opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional went into overdrive with a shrill call for Anwar to go on leave and let an interim prime minister take charge until the matter is resolved, presumably in the opposition’s favour. 

With Anwar gone temporarily, PN would no doubt exploit every possible avenue, legal or constitutional or otherwise, to position its candidate to fill the country’s top post.

PN has strategically co-opted the royal decree that judicial appointments must be handled with great care, seeing it as in line with its stance on the matter.

In doing so, PN creates the impression that the palace is giving it a sort of moral support. It conveniently ignores the royal warning that the issue must not be politicised.

But politicians always thrive on controversies. If you are in the opposition camp, you see every issue – big or small – through the lens of politics.

More often than not, the lens is distorted and you get a distorted view of whatever is emanating from Putrajaya. You cannot see anything straight, bright or right about this ‘Madani man’.

If there is one issue that can unite politicians of all stripes against Anwar, it is Anwar. Stick something controversial on him and immediately you hear loud roars and fearful hisses from disgruntled politicians who were once Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan allies but who are now out of favour and want to take revenge from the wayside.

Even a vengeful centenarian politician cannot keep quiet but must come out with fire in his belly to try to get his once right-hand man to quit immediately in the name of upholding the independence of the judiciary. 

This older man has forgotten or chose to forget he once seriously undermined this hallowed institution during his tenure as prime minister decades ago.

In the next coming days, the people of Malaysia will be entertained by a highly charged drama of politicians, lawyers and others walking to safeguard judicial independence.

But they are highly unlikely to see Anwar walking away from his job.

Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.