00:00The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has set June 3 to hear Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's
00:07application to refer eight constitutional questions regarding legal immunity to the
00:13federal court. The application is related to a civil suit filed by Anwar's former research
00:18assistant, Muhammad Yusof Rother, who alleges he was sexually assaulted by Anwar seven years ago.
00:24High Court Judge Justice Rozmawar Rozain fixed the hearing date during an online case management
00:30session on Wednesday. In his application filed last week, Anwar is seeking a ruling on whether
00:37Yusof's lawsuit interferes with his official duties and undermines the separation of powers.
00:43He argues that the suit is politically motivated and intended to tarnish his reputation. Anwar is
00:50also asking the court to determine whether, as the sitting prime minister, he is entitled to
00:55immunity from what he describes as vexatious litigation under Article 5.1 of the federal
01:02constitution. He is requesting that proceedings in the main suit be stayed pending the outcome of the
01:08federal court's decision. In his statement of claim filed on July 14, 2021, Yusof alleged that
01:15the assault occurred on October 2, 2018, at Anwar's residence in Segambut. He claimed the incident led
01:23to accusations that he was part of a conspiracy to undermine Anwar politically, which negatively
01:29impacted his mental health. Anwar has denied the allegations and filed a countersuit, calling the
01:35claims utterly false and fabricated. In his defense, he stated the alleged incident could not have taken place,
01:43as he was hosting family and friends at his Bukit Segambut home on the day in question.
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