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PRESS STATEMENT

For Immediate Release
7 October 2025

Legality of Anwar Ibrahim’s Premiership Referred to Federal Court

On the 6th October 2025, through my solicitors Messrs Karthig Shan I have filed an application before the High Court of Malaya seeking to refer urgent and substantial constitutional questions to the Federal Court pursuant to Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution and Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.

This application seeks the speedy and authoritative determination by the Federal Court on matters that go to the very heart of Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy, particularly the constitutional legitimacy of Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim’s appointment as Prime Minister.

The questions referred concern the proper interpretation and effect of Articles 42 and 48 of the Federal Constitution, specifically whether:

i) Whether the removal of parliamentary disqualification under Article 48 is a separate constitutional process, independent of the royal pardon powers under Article 42.

ii) Whether a royal pardon under Article 42 automatically removes parliamentary disqualification, or whether a distinct constitutional act by the Yang di-PertuanAgong under Article 48 is also required to restore eligibility to serve as a Member of Parliament

These are grave and novel constitutional issues of immense public importance. They touch upon the rule of law, constitutional supremacy, and the legitimacy of executive authority in Malaysia. An authoritative pronouncement by the Federal Court is essential to ensure legal certainty and constitutional integrity.

I call upon Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim not to obstruct, delay, or frustrate the judicial process through technicalities or procedural tactics. As the Prime Minister, he must face the constitutional questions surrounding his legitimacy openly and without evasion. This matter goes to the heart of Malaysia’s democracy — it must be resolved swiftly, decisively, and in full view of the Malaysian people.

Only a clear and final determination by the Federal Court can preserve public confidence in our institutions and uphold the supremacy of the Federal Constitution.

Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy

Mengheret kerajaan Thai dalam kempen menghalang kebebasan bersuara PM Anwar adalah satu kemunafikan yang nyata.

Dengan mengejar penahanan seorang pengkritik di luar negara, Anwar bukan sahaja mengkhianati reformasi— beliau telah menyerang kebebasan yang pernah dijanjikan untuk dipertahankan, merobek kredibilitinya sendiri dan reputasi demokrasi Malaysia.

-Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy

Dengan mengejar penahanan seorang pengkritik di luar negara, PM Anwar bukan sahaja mengkhianati reformasi—beliau telah menyerang kebebasan yang pernah dijanjikan untuk dipertahankan, merobek kredibilitinya sendiri dan reputasi demokrasi Malaysia.

Penangkapan Murray Hunter di Bangkok atas permintaan Malaysia adalah satu noda yang memalukan pada kepimpinan PM Anwar Ibrahim serta pengkhianatan terhadap idealisme yang telah lama beliau dakwa perjuangkan. Selama berdekad, Anwar berdiri di pentas dunia sambil mengisytiharkan komitmennya terhadap demokrasi, hak asasi manusia, dan kebebasan bersuara. Hari ini, sekali lagi beliau terdedah sebagai seorang hipokrit—menggunakan kuasa negara untuk menutup mulut pengkritik dan malah menyeret kerajaan asing ke dalam kempennya menghalang kebebasan bersuara. Kemunafikan yang jelas ini pasti membuat ramai antara kita berasa marah dan dikhianati.

Kritikan Utama oleh Murray Hunter

1. Menuduh MCMC & Polis sebagai Institusiyang Dipolitikkan
dan bertindak selari atau dipengaruhi oleh kerajaan semasa.

2. MCMC Bertindak di Luar Bidang Kuasa demi Kepentingan Sendiri

3. Mengugut Orang Awam melalui MCMC dan Polis, terutamanya pengkritik atau penentang. Ini termasuk menggunakan mekanisme undang-undang untuk membisukan atau mengugut.

4. Kekecewaan terhadap Janji Reformasi
Hunter menyatakan bahawa banyak janjikerajaan Anwar (tentang reformasi, ketelusan, semak imbang institusi, dsb.) tidak ditunaikan.

5. “Kerajaan Madani dalam Mod Membinasakan Diri” dan retakan dalam keyakinan awam, apabila penyokong mula kecewa dan kerajaan gagal menunjukkan kekuatan yang kelihatan apabila berdepan undang-undang yang mencabar. Retakan ini terbukti dalam sokongan yang semakin merosot dan kekecewaan awam yang semakin meningkat terhadap kegagalan kerajaan menunaikan janji.

6. “Realiti Pahit” / Masalah Lama yang Berterusan
Walaupun retorik perubahan dilaungkan, banyak isu struktur atau sistemik masihkekal: kronisme, ketidaksamaan ekonomi, dasar yang masih memihak elit, monopoli berterusan, sistem undang-undang ditekan, undang-undang fitnah dan undang-undang mengekang masih wujud.

7. Sistem Kehakiman Dua Lapis / Kontroversi Pengampunan, seperti pengurangan hukuman atau pengampunan untuk individu yang disabit kesalahan (bekas pemimpin politik), menunjukkan adanya dwi-standard dalam pelaksanaan keadilan — satuset peraturan untuk mereka yang berpengaruh, satu lagi untuk pengkritik atau rakyat biasa.

Tulisan Murray Hunter tentang rasuah, penapisan, penyalahgunaan MCMC dan polis, serta pengkhianatan terhadap janji reformasi bukanlah jenayah.

Ia adalah ekspresi penentangan yang sah, asas kepada mana-mana demokrasi yang sebenar. Mengkriminalkan ucapan sebegini adalah tidak boleh diterima; mengeksport penganiayaan ini keluar sempadan Malaysia pula adalah penyalahgunaan autoriti terhadap undang-undang antarabangsa. Ini menekankan betapa mendesaknya keadaan ini dan keperluan untuk tindakan segera.

Kerajaan Malaysia mesti secara terbuka mengakui atau menafikan apa yang telah banyak dilaporkan di peringkat antarabangsa: bahawa ia meminta penangkapan Hunter. Apa-apa yang kurang daripada itu adalah pengecut dan penipuan. Dengan mengejar penahanan seorang pengkritik di luar negara, Anwar bukan sahajamengkhianati reformasi—beliau telah menyerang dengan kejam kebebasan yang pernah dijanjikan untuk dipertahankan, merobek kredibilitinya sendiri dan reputasi demokrasi Malaysia.

Dragging a foreign government into Anwar’s campaign of repression is a blatant hypocrisy.

By pursuing the detention of a critic abroad, Anwar has not merely betrayed reform—he has brutally assaulted the very freedoms he once vowed to defend, shredding both his credibility and Malaysia’s democratic reputation.

-Waytha Moorthy Ponnusamy

The arrest of Murray Hunter in Bangkok at Malaysia’s behest is a disgraceful stain on PM Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership and a despicable betrayal of the very ideals Anwar has long claimed to champion. For decades, Anwar stood on global stages proclaiming his commitment to democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression. Today, he stands exposed as a hypocrite—using state power to muzzle criticism and even dragging a foreign government into his campaign of repression. This blatant hypocrisy is sure to leave many of us feeling outraged and betrayed.

Key Criticisms by Murray Hunter

1. Accused MCMC & Police as Politicised Institutions

acting in a way that is aligned with or influenced by the current government.

2. MCMC Acting Beyond Jurisdiction for Self-Interest

and behaving in self-serving ways rather than simply enforcing its regulatory roles.

3. Intimidation of the Public through the MCMC and police, especially critics or dissenters. This includes using legal or regulatory mechanisms to silence or threaten.

4. Disappointment with Reform Promises-Hunter expresses that many of the promises Anwar’s government made (about reform, transparency, institutional checks, etc.) have not been fulfilled.

5. “Madani Government Self-Destruct Mode” and cracks appearing in public confidence, as supporters become disappointed and the government fails to live up to its apparent strength when contentious or challenging legislation arises. These cracks in public confidence are evident in the decreasing support for the government and the growing disillusionment among the public with the government's failure to deliver on its promises.

6. “Stark Realities” / Continuation of the Same Old Problems- despite the rhetoric of change, many structural or systemic issues persist: cronyism, economic inequality, policies still favour elites, monopolies continue, the legal system is stretched, defamation laws and restrictive laws remain.

7. Two-Tier System of Justice / Pardons Controversy, like commutations or pardons for convicted individuals (former political leaders), pointing to a double standard in how justice is applied — one set of rules for those connected, another for ordinary critics or citizens

Murray Hunter’s writings on corruption, censorship, misuse of the MCMC and police, and the betrayal of reform promises are not crimes.

They are the legitimate expressions of dissent upon which any real democracy depends. To criminalize such speech is intolerable; to export this persecution beyond Malaysia’s borders is an authoritarian abuse of international law. This underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action.

The Malaysian government must publicly admit or deny what is already widely reported internationally: that it requested Hunter’s arrest. Anything less is cowardice and deception. By pursuing the detention of a critic abroad, Anwar has not merely betrayed reform—he has brutally assaulted the very freedoms he once vowed to defend, shredding both his credibility and Malaysia’s democratic reputation.

Legality of Anwar Ibrahim’s Premiership Referred to Federal Court

Mengheret kerajaan Thai dalam kempen menghalang kebebasan bersuara PM Anwar adalah satu kemunafikan yang nyata

Dragging a foreign government into Anwar’s campaign of repression is a blatant hypocrisy

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