TWO prominent lawyers are impressed with the grounds of Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Roz Mawar Rozain in rejecting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s bid to suspend the civil lawsuit by his former research assistant Yusoff Rawther who accused him of alleged sexual assault in 2018 at the PKR party office.
Former de facto law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who was at Justice Roz Mawar’s court yesterday (June 4) afternoon said he left the venue “fully satisfied”.
“Her dismissal of Anwar’s attempt to delay the hearing of Yusoff’s civil claim of sexual assault is 100% correct,” the founder of one of Malaysia’s largest legal firms, Zaid Ibrahim & Co, penned on X.
I was in Justice Roz Mawar’s court this afternoon, and I left fully satisfied.
Her dismissal of Anwar Ibrahim’s attempt to delay the hearing of Yusof’s Lawther civil claim of sexual assault is hundred per cent correct
I always find her judgement sound ( except one), and she is…
— Zaid Ibrahim (@zaidibrahim) June 4, 2025
“I always find her judgement sound (except one) and she is undoubtedly one of our best judges.”
In dismissing Anwar’s application to refer eight legal questions arising from a civil suit filed by Yusoff to the Federal Court, Justice Roz Mawar ruled that the questions posed by PMX failed to cross the threshold set out in Section 84 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
“None of the articles cited in the Federal Constitution – as argued by the defendant’s lawyers – gave rise to any real, substantial and justiciable questions of law that require a determination by the Federal Court,” she deduced.
In rejecting an application by Anwar’s lawyer, Alan Wong, for a stay pending appeal on grounds that “sorry, my hands are tied”, Justice Roz Mawar said the trial of Yusoff Rawther’s suit will begin at 9am on June 16 as scheduled.
She further ordered PMX to pay RM20,000 in costs to Yusoff.
In summing up, the opposition-slant Zaid now hopes that PMX will not proceed with the application to stay the proceeding which has been set for hearing on June 16 because there are no merits to his application.
“Furthermore, his lawyer had stated in open court that his client was ready to proceed with the trial. Why the need for deferment?” asked the former defence counsel of now incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“As the leader of the Reformasi movement in the country, it does not look good for the PM to be seen as avoiding his accuser in (an) open court. After all, he had said on many occasions (that) the accusations were frivolous and untrue.”
‘Beauty with brain’
Commenting on the KL High Court declining his application to refer eight constitutional questions to the Federal Court under Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution, Anwar reiterated that the matter has never been about seeking personal immunity or escaping legal scrutiny.
“It concerns the integrity of our constitutional system and the need to ensure that high public office is protected from litigation that may be strategically timed, politically motivated or institutionally disruptive,” argued PMX in a statement.
STATEMENT ON HIGH COURT DECISION AND CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENCE
This afternoon, the High Court declined my application to refer 8 constitutional questions to the Federal Court under Article 128(2) of the Federal Constitution.
This matter has never been about seeking personal…
— Anwar Ibrahim (@anwaribrahim) June 4, 2025
“I remain fully committed to the rule of law, the independence of our courts and the dignity of democratic governance. The legal process will continue, and I’ll continue to discharge my responsibilities without distraction or compromise.”
Meanwhile human rights activist and lawyer Siti Kasim described Justice Roz Mawar who was appointed as a High Court judge on Nov 12 last year as a “beauty with brain” after having read her grounds of judgment.
“It’s not only that she’s pretty and beautiful but she’s also very smart … Her decision is solid-molid [sic],” reacted the Orang Asli advocate with a caveat.
“Perhaps Yusoff Rawther will have his day in court, perhaps not because PMX’s clever lawyers may appeal and then ask for stay although Justice Roz Mawar has insisted that the case will go on as scheduled on June 16.
“But still, I’ve strong feeling that the Court of Appeal shall uphold the judgment of Justice Roz Mawar because there’s no other way for them to go around it; after all, her explanation is so detailed … Reading a solid judgment coming from a clever judge feels like reading a good book.
“Anyway, good luck to both Yusoff Rawther and PMX. May the righteous party win the case.” – June 5, 2025
Main image credit: SK Studio/YouTube; Suruhanjaya Pelantikan Kehakiman
