High Court strikes out Waytha’s bid against Anwar

2026-03-18 - 02:31

The High Court struck out P Waytha Moorthy’s originating summons for a declaration that Anwar Ibrahim should not have been elected as Tambun MP in the November 2022 and appointed prime minister. KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court today struck out an originating summons filed by lawyer P Waytha Moorthy seeking to invalidate Anwar Ibrahim’s election as Tambun MP and his appointment as prime minister. Justice Alice Loke allowed the prime minister’s application to strike out the suit in a decision delivered this morning. She also ordered Waytha to pay RM80,000 in costs to Anwar. Waytha had sought a declaration that Anwar should not have been elected in the November 2022 general election or appointed prime minister. He filed the originating summons last year. He contended that Anwar’s 2018 royal pardon did not explicitly lift the five‐year disqualification from contesting elections prescribed in the Federal Constitution. On that basis, Waytha argued that Anwar’s election as Tambun MP on Nov 19, 2022, and his appointment as prime minister five days later were null and void. “The originating summons discloses no reasonable cause of action. As it lacks any legal basis, the suit is also frivolous and vexatious,” Loke said when delivering her judgment. “Given the settled legal position, the suit amounts to an abuse of the court’s process. The originating summons is plainly unsustainable and unarguable. It would be pointless to allow it to proceed. “In the result, the defendant’s application is allowed, and the originating summons is struck out,” the judge added. Following the decision, Waytha told the media that he will be appealing the decision. MORE TO COME