IPOH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he did not meet or discuss with the chief justice regarding the court decisions involving Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who was acquitted of money laundering and tax evasion charges.
"There are various interpretations, but what I know is that this is a court decision, and it has been handed over to the attorney-general to take the next course of action.
"It is unreasonable to expect my administration to operate like the previous administration, where the prime minister could call judges and issue instructions.
"I did not meet with any judge, nor did I discuss court decisions with the chief justice," he said.
The Tambun member of parliament told reporters this after launching "Lim Kit Siang: Malaysia First", a book authored by Kee Thuan Chye, at a restaurant here.
Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran, Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
Anwar said the public must respect the court's decision, adding that it was up to the attorney-general to decide whether an appeal was necessary.
"But I do not think these matters should become controversial. DNAA (discharge not amounting to acquittal) has many critics from the opposition.
"This decision has been made, and we will read and scrutinise the judge's ruling," he said.
Yesterday, it was reported that Rosmah, the wife of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was acquitted of all RM7 million money laundering and tax evasion charges.
High Court judge K. Muniandy delivered the decision, granting Rosmah's application to quash all charges.
Rosmah was initially charged in the Sessions Court on Oct 4, 2018, before the case was transferred to the High Court.
She faced 12 charges of money laundering involving RM7,097,750 and five charges of failing to declare her income to the Inland Revenue Board.
She was accused of committing the offences between Dec 4, 2013, and June 8, 2017.