Harapan sources: MPs told Anwar not to nominate judge in scandal

Harapan sources: MPs told Anwar not to nominate judge in scandal

Zikri Kamarulzaman, Hariz Mohd & Alyaa Alhadjri
Published: Jul 15, 2025 11:53 AM
Updated: 2:11 PM


Several Pakatan Harapan MPs told Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during their meeting yesterday not to nominate a certain senior judge for top judicial positions.

This is according to highly placed sources in the coalition, who were also present at the so-called no-holds-barred meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya.

However, according to the MPs, Anwar did not reveal whether the senior judge - who is implicated in an alleged judicial interference scandal - was part of the list he had submitted to the Conference of Rulers.

"He (Anwar) said the decision will be in the hands of the Conference of Rulers.

"He was sort of saying 'point taken'," claimed one MP.

This claim was corroborated by the account of another elected representative, who is from a different component party.

While the issue was discussed in a closed-door meeting, the second source said, Anwar did not show them the list of judges that Putrajaya proposes to be the next chief justice, president of the Court of Appeal, and chief judge of Malaya.

"We have discussed, but it is a closed-door meeting... we didn't see the list.

"So, this is something that is between the prime minister and the Conference of Rulers. So, I cannot confirm for you (if that certain judge is on the list)," said the source.

On the other hand, a third MP claimed the prime minister had told MPs explicitly that the judge in question was not being considered.

"(The judge's name) is not in PM's list to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Not for the chief justice position, Court of Appeal president, or chief judges for Malaya or Sabah and Sarawak.

"(His name) is not there," claimed the MP.

The Conference of Rulers is convening today until July 17.


Two-hour meeting

Yesterday, Anwar spent close to two hours in a meeting with Harapan MPs, with a focus on controversies mounted against the judiciary.

According to Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan, among the issues raised include the alleged leak of Judicial Appointments Commission meeting minutes, a purported document which contained serious allegations of judicial interference involving a senior judge.

Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan


Concerns about the judge were intensified after the purported minutes from May were leaked on Saturday.

The document appeared to corroborate allegations of judicial interference that surfaced last month after a police report lodged on the judge’s behalf was also leaked.

Police have since launched an investigation under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act, among others, with a focus on determining how the classified document had leaked out on social media.