Anwar’s call to Muhyiddin comes in the wake of a statement by chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat yesterday that no one had approached her personally. “I don’t know about the rest (other judges) but I suspect no one asked for their help, too,” she told reporters.

In view of this, Anwar said Muhyiddin must clarify his claims made in a live telecast in August last year that he had been asked to intervene in certain high profile cases.

“There is public doubt and suspicion as to whether the executive is interfering in judicial affairs even though we acknowledge the existence of judges who are firm and law-abiding,” he said in a statement today.

He added that the Attorney-General must also provide a firm response on this important matter.

Anwar also welcomed Tengku Maimun’s assurance that no one had approached her to interfere in high-profile cases.

Tengku Maimun had said even if there was any contact, her answer would be: “There is nothing we can do. The matter is in court and the judges will decide according to evidence and the law.”

The top judge was asked to respond to a portion of the speech by Malaysian Bar president AG Kalidas relating to the remarks by Muhyiddin.