00:00Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wants the High Court to refer eight questions of law to the federal court for determination,
00:09including whether he has immunity from a civil suit brought against him by a former research assistant.
00:15Anwar wants the Apex Court to rule on whether Articles 39, 40, and 43 of the Federal Constitution
00:23grant him qualified immunity from a suit filed by Yusuf Rauther four years ago.
00:28The suit relates to events which allegedly took place prior to Anwar's appointment as Prime Minister on November 24, 2022.
00:37In the application filed last week, Anwar wants the Federal Court to rule on whether the suit would impair the effective discharge of his executive duties
00:45and undermine the constitutional separation of powers.
00:49He also wants a ruling on whether the suit will offend his right under Article 8, Sub 1 of the Constitution
00:55to equal protection under the law, particularly as he claims that the suit is an abuse of process.
01:01Anwar says the suit is premised on a manufactured claim and that he is the victim of politically motivated reputational sabotage.
01:09He also wants the Federal Court to order the High Court to conduct a threshold inquiry to determine whether the suit constitutes an abuse of process or a threat to public interest,
01:20and if so, whether it must be stayed or dismissed to preserve constitutional governance.
01:25The application also seeks a determination as to whether Anwar, as the sitting Prime Minister,
01:31is entitled under Article 5, Sub 1 of the Constitution to protection from a vexatious litigant,
01:37bringing a suit that is strategically timed or politically weaponized to undermine his ability to govern.
