Anwar said such criticism was inconsistent, pointing out that the same individuals also talked about the importance of judicial independence in tackling corruption.

“One person is granted a DNAA, and a group criticises the prime minister. The following week, another person receives a DNAA, and a different group blames the prime minister again.

“These are the same people who talked about the independence of the judiciary. What exactly do they want? Do they expect me to act like a dictator and force judges to rule according to their personal views?” he asked.

Anwar was speaking at the Asean Madani Leadership Symposium organised by the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim) and the Society for the Enlightenment of the Ummah Malaysia (Wadah).

He also criticised what he called the hypocrisy of some individuals who focused only on certain figures when raising concerns about corruption.

While they acknowledged that billions had been misappropriated, Anwar said these critics gave no support to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s efforts to carry out investigations.

“What is wrong with our system? We should be free to speak. I’m not saying we must be involved in partisan politics, but we must be committed to ethics and values.

“Just because these tycoons support their causes, organisations, political parties or civil society, it doesn’t mean that we should turn a blind eye to their past corruption,” he said.

On June 20, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted former prime minister Najib Razak a DNAA in his RM27 million SRC International Sdn Bhd money laundering case.

Justice K Muniandy ruled that the prosecution could not proceed with the case within a reasonable time frame.

In 2023, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was also granted a DNAA on 47 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.