Anwar succeeds in halting civil sexual assault suit filed by former research officer

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has succeeded in halting the sexual assault suit filed against him in 2021 by former research officer Muhammed Yusoff Rawther.

A three-member Court of Appeal panel led by Datuk Supang Lian ruled that this was due to special circumstances, as a stay should be granted to preserve the integrity of the appeal, reported The New Straits Times.

Anwar's application to stay trial proceedings came after Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain rejected his bid to refer eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court on the immunity of a prime minister from a civil suit.

Roz Mawar, in her decision, ruled that Anwar's referral application on the eight constitutional questions was speculative and did not meet the requirements under Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act.

Anwar had sought the apex court to rule whether Articles 5,8,39,40 and 43 of the Federal Constitution grant him qualified immunity from Yusoff's suit.

He had asked the court to decide whether Yusoff's suit would impair the effective discharge of his executive duties and undermine the constitutional separation of powers.

Anwar had also requested the court to consider whether the lawsuit impacts his ability to carry out executive duties and undermines the principle of separation of powers guaranteed by the Constitution. – July 21, 2025