THE Youth wing of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) has sharply criticised PAS Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden for calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to take a leave of absence pending the civil court case filed against him by Yusof Rawther.
Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) Chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim described Afnan’s remarks as “irresponsible and dangerous”, accusing him of insinuating executive interference in the judiciary.
“The statement wrongly implies that the executive is meddling in the judiciary, which is an extremely serious and unfounded allegation,” Muhammad Kamil said in a statement on Thursday.
“The High Court’s decision to proceed with the case is in itself clear proof that there is no interference in the judicial process.”
He stressed that judges are empowered to make rulings based solely on the arguments presented in court, and that the case reflects the judiciary’s independence under the current government.
“This is clear evidence that the Madani Government upholds the principle of separation of powers, particularly the independence of the judiciary, which is a cornerstone of our parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy.”
Earlier this week, PAS Youth, under the banner of Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth, urged Prime Minister Anwar to step aside temporarily to allow the court proceedings to unfold “without executive influence.” Afnan claimed the civil suit raised not only legal but also moral concerns, potentially affecting public perception of the Prime Minister’s integrity.
In response, Muhammad Kamil dismissed the suggestion as politically charged and unsubstantiated, accusing PAS of exploiting the issue for partisan gain.
“The Prime Minister’s ability to lead should be assessed on the basis of his performance, not distorted through the lens of political hatred, which PAS has long practised,” he added.
He further criticised the argument as intellectually lazy and inconsistent.
“If we apply the same logic, the Chief Ministers of Kedah and Kelantan should have also taken leave over controversies that surrounded them. That’s why Afnan’s reasoning is flawed and superficial.”
Muhammad Kamil reiterated AMK’s confidence in the independence of Malaysia’s judiciary and called for political actors to refrain from politicising legal matters to score cheap points.
“The rule of law must remain above political opportunism,” he concluded. - June 5, 2025
