PETALING JAYA: Any attempt to undermine the justice system will not be taken lightly by the public, says opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“I believe Malaysians will rise up to defend the institution. Because in a democracy, among its pillars is an independent judiciary,” the PKR President said during a press conference after the launch of the Generasi Keadilan event at the Crystal Crown Hotel yesterday.

He added that the leaders of Pakatan Harapan and the PKR would never compromise on the attempts to destroy the judicial institution.

Anwar claimed Malaysia’s justice system had been “tainted” for many years.

Recently, however, several attempts have been made to strengthen the judicial institution.

Earlier in his opening speech, Anwar said it was unprecedented for the judiciary, which is an independent body, to be subject to so much public criticism and scrutiny.

Without naming any party, Anwar said there had been attempts by an “old party” to undermine and challenge the independence of the judiciary.

At the same time, Anwar told party members that if PKR wanted to remain relevant in today’s political landscape, then the party needed to be more in touch with the issues faced by ordinary people.

“We have to be with the people and we have to be resilient so that we can make changes,” he said.

Opinions are divided on the ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali.

MACC’s investigations were opened following claims by rogue blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin that funds were transferred to the account of Mohd Nazlan when he was the group’s general counsel and Maybank’s corporate secretary.

MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the investigation was launched after a report on the matter was filed.

Mohd Nazlan was the judge who sentenced former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for embezzling RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.

Mohd Nazlan filed a police report against Raja Petra on April 21, denying charges he says are malicious and baseless, and aimed at tarnishing his credibility as a judge.