Commenting on the recent developments, lawyer Azira Aziz said that it would be a “conflict of interest” and an “ethical dilemma” for the current government to be involved in the judicial appointment process.

Azira reminded that many politicians still have both civil and criminal cases, either pending or concluded, and that the current prime minister himself had also been formerly convicted and then pardoned for specific charges.

“Giving someone (like Anwar) who was subject to the justice process the right to decide the head of the judiciary would only suggest a conflict of interest.

“For this reason, I am in favour of the JAC being able to directly nominate the top judiciary positions to the Agong, without the prime minister’s advice,” she told Malaysiakini.