THE nine Members of Parliament from PKR must be held accountable if the Madani government falls, said Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim, following their public call for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into alleged judicial interference.
Hassan said the demand, led by Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, reflected an apparent loss of confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“If an RCI is formed, Anwar, as the Prime Minister with constitutional authority over judicial appointments, will inevitably come under investigation,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Anwar becomes the main suspect to be investigated by the RCI. This is the implication of their own demand. Without the Prime Minister’s and Cabinet’s consent, this push will only further damage Anwar’s image and that of his government. These nine PKR MPs have effectively placed Anwar’s neck under the guillotine, like in the French Revolution.”
Hassan acknowledged that the judicial issues raised were valid and of public interest, describing them as “the elephant in the room”.
“Their actions are progressive, radical, and popular with the public. But are these nine MPs prepared for the possibility that their actions could bring Anwar down?
“If so, then clearly a rebellion is under way within PKR itself,” he said.
Hassan also described the move as a direct political challenge to the PKR president, unprecedented in the party’s history.
“Anwar is now on the defensive. The Madani government is weakening, and its integrity has been compromised by this judicial controversy. Have they thought through the long-term implications for the nation, the reform agenda, and the future of PKR – not just Anwar’s political survival?”
He added that this marks the most serious and daring challenge to Anwar’s leadership by senior MPs within PKR.
According to Hassan, the development suggests a growing sense of disillusionment within the party’s leadership over the government’s compromises, which he said have given rise to hypocrisy.
“When Anwar returns from his overseas trip, his top priority must be to address this demand wisely. This is no minor issue – it is a serious matter that pits the leadership of the party against itself.”
However, Hassan reaffirmed his support for Anwar and the Madani government, saying he would continue to defend the administration.
On Monday, nine PKR MPs publicly urged the government to establish an RCI into alleged interference in judicial appointments and court decisions – an issue they said threatens public confidence in judicial independence.
Rafizi, speaking at a press conference, likened the current situation to the 2007 VK Lingam scandal involving alleged influence over the appointment of the Chief Justice.
The press conference was attended by Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Ampang MP Rodziah Ismail, Subang MP Wong Chen, Wangsa Maju MP Zahir Hassan, Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, and Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Two other PKR MPs – S. Kesavan (Sungai Siput) and Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat) – were not present but expressed support for the call for judicial reform. - July 8, 2025
