COMMENT | This statement is made in my personal capacity as a citizen responsible to uphold the Federal Constitution.

I call upon Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take an immediate leave of absence from his official duties or, as a matter of principle, offer his immediate resignation, pending the resolution of the civil suit filed against him by his former staff member, Yusoff Rawther.

As head of cabinet in a unity government, Anwar is mandated with exclusive power under Article 122 of the Federal Constitution in advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in the appointments of the Federal Court judges, Court of Appeal judges and High Court judges.

The constitution provides that the Agong must...