TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad has criticised what he described as an attempt by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to evade court proceedings by relying on the legal immunity supposedly afforded to a sitting head of government.
In a strongly worded statement posted on thechedet.com today, the former prime minister questioned why Anwar would not submit to legal proceedings if he was confident of his innocence.
“If one is truly innocent, it is better to allow the court to decide the matter. But if one avoids trial, it gives the impression that something is being hidden,” he said.
Dr Mahathir further raised concerns about the scope of such immunity and whether it could be extended to other potential cases in the future.
“If immunity is granted in one case, it is not impossible for other cases to also be immune. So, hypothetically, even if a Prime Minister commits murder, it would be acceptable,” he remarked with sarcasm.
He also took aim at what he called selective enforcement of the law, claiming that some individuals who have been convicted by the High Court continue to avoid punishment under the pretext of awaiting appeal—despite those appeals being dismissed.
“Meanwhile, others, even before trial, are subjected to various forms of pressure, including months-long detention, asset seizures, and harassment of their families.
“In short, they are punished before being found guilty,” he said.
Dr Mahathir argued that such inconsistent application of the law casts serious doubt on Malaysia’s commitment to justice and the rule of law.
“It may be acceptable to detain individuals before trial in serious cases like murder or drug trafficking. But now, even minor cases result in detention, followed by unexplained release,” he said.
In the statement, he then branded the government’s reform agenda as mere rhetoric.
“This is the true face of reformasi as championed by the current government – just empty slogans. We now see who the real liars are,” he said. - June 10, 2025
