The Malaysian judiciary, although it generally acts independently, was widely seen to be complicit in political prosecutions by the government, particularly in the trial of former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
There were continuing tense relations between the judiciary and the legal profession and there were sustained attacks on the independence of the legal profession by the government.
The government instituted sedition proceedings against Karpal Singh, Anwar Ibrahim’s defence lawyer, for statements he made in court in the defence of his client.
Malaysia continues to act in defiance of the International Court of Justice, by not granting the Special Rapporteur for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers immunity from prosecution.
Attacks on Justice 2000 – Malaysia [full text, PDF]