Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivering his speech during the Asean Law Association General Assembly 2023. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says that he will continue to defend the judiciary's independence.
Noting "disconcerting rumblings" that the executive was allegedly interfering with due process and strong-arming the judiciary, he said there is "not one iota of truth in these scurrilous allegations".
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"(They) are now being repeated ad nauseum on social media," he said in his opening remarks at the 14th Asean Law Association General Assembly 2023 and Asean Law Conference here on Thursday (Oct 19).
The Prime Minister noted, however, that these rumours were not necessarily reflective of the majority.
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"Let me reiterate what I have said before: as Prime Minister, not only have I not encroached upon even a single inch of the sacred terrain of the judiciary, but I shall defend, at all costs, the independence of the judiciary," he added.
Among the attendees were Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and Singapore Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon.
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Anwar said the rule of law warrants that government power must be used in accordance with the law.
"Flowing (from that) is the principle that the government and those who wield power must be held to account for their decisions and actions. The government must be transparent and that is imperative from the principle of open government," said Anwar
"Hence, shady dealings and dodgy decisions cannot be used to pull the wool over the people’s eyes in the name of the Official Secrets Act," he added.
