PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal against the High Court's decision yesterday, which rejected his bid to refer constitutional questions to the Federal Court.
Anwar's lawyer, Datuk Seri Rajasegaran Krishnan, told the New Straits Times,"Yes, the notice of appeal was filed yesterday evening, immediately after the High Court's decision."
He said he would file an application for a stay of the trial proceedings either today or tomorrow, along with a certificate of urgency, in relation to the sexual assault suit filed against Anwar by his former research officer, Muhammed Yusoff Rawther.
Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court's dismissed Anwar's request to refer eight constitutional questions—including whether a sitting Prime Minister is immune from civil suits—to the Federal Court.
Rajasegaran, said the appeal would be made under Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution and Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (CJA), emphasising the importance of preserving the integrity of the legal process.
“To protect the sanctity of the appellate process, we are also applying to ensure that the Prime Minister is not prematurely subjected to proceedings that may later be deemed unconstitutional,” he said.
He said the eight questions raised are not abstract or academic.
"They involve serious and unresolved constitutional issues, including protections for executive functions, risks of politically motivated litigation, and the interpretation of Articles 5(1), 8(1), 39, 40, and 43 of the Federal Constitution.” - June 5, 2025
