The development of Yusoff Rawther cases creates serious curiosity among Malaysians
There is a rising call for a royal commission of inquiry into the Yusoff Rawther case which is not only getting curiouser and curiouser but smells of a Rawthergate scandal in the making.
As usual, let us seek the truth from the facts.
The civil suit filed by Encik Yusoff Rawther, former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 2021, alleges that the PKR leader sexually assaulted him at the PKR president’s home in October 2018, just days before he won the Port Dickson by-election.
Yusoff, the grandson of the late Penang consumer advocate Encik SM Mohamed Idris, sought, among others, special, general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as interest, costs and other relief deemed fit by the court.
Yusoff alleged that following the incident, he was accused of plotting against Anwar to damage his political career. He also said the accusations had affected his mental health. Anwar denied the claim and filed a countersuit.
Last year, Yusoff was placed under remand at Sungai Buloh prison after he was charged with trafficking 305g of cannabis and possessing fake firearms in a vehicle in front of the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters’ surau at 10.15am on 6 September, 2024.
Bail is disallowed for such a capital offence. The 33-year-old strongly denied the allegations and stated in court that he was a victim of those in power, naming Anwar and his former political secretary Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador.
It has further been reported that Yussoff was housed on death row during his remand period in Sungai Buloh prison instead of in the remand section reserved for those detained without bail awaiting trial.
The director-general of the Prisons Department, Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Razak, must explain why Yusoff was put through these torturous conditions in prison.
After spending nine months in Sungai Buloh Prison, Yusoff was acquitted on the criminal charges.
According to the judge, Datuk Jamil Hussin, the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against Yusoff on both charges. His legal team, led by Encik Rafique Rashid, dismantled the prosecution’s case, exposing major flaws and inconsistencies in the evidence.
Thus, if the original intent behind the criminal charges was to discredit or silence him ahead of the civil suit, that strategy had clearly failed.
Who planted cannabis and other items in Yusoff’s car?
Now, if the court found the evidence against Yusoff to be flawed, the obvious question the country wants answered is: Who planted the cannabis and other items in Yusoff’s car to incriminate him?
We do not need to speculate as to who was responsible for this “Rawthergate scandal” except to demand a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into this clear conspiracy to entrap a man who has taken a civil suit against the current prime minister for allegedly sexually assaulting him.
It is not just the police but also the attorney-general, the home minister and the prime minister who must answer to the RCI.
Yusoff’s sexual assault case against Anwar was due to commence on June 16, but has been delayed until July because of an appeal by Anwar against the court hearing the case.
Anwar's excuse for immunity
Anwar has attempted to pose constitutional questions to the Federal Court in a bid to obtain immunity from civil proceedings, which he claims are politically motivated and designed to interfere with his official duties.
The High Court earlier denied Anwar’s application to stay the civil suit, stating that the judiciary does not see his prime ministerial role as a shield against such proceedings. However, the Court of Appeal subsequently intervened, postponing the trial pending the resolution of Anwar’s constitutional challenge.
While Anwar insists that the immunity he seeks is for the office of the prime minister and not for himself personally, the fact remains that Yusoff is suing Anwar the individual — not the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
This distinction matters. The civil suit is not a theoretical challenge to a government institution, but a direct allegation of personal misconduct with potentially far-reaching implications for public trust in the country’s leadership.
There must be a royal commission of inquiry set up if Yusoff is to get a fair trial. Otherwise, the speculation will run wild, casting aspersions on not only the police inspector-general, attorney-general, home minister and prime minister, but taint the whole law enforcement machinery of our country and expose the extent of corruption in the administration.
Adapted from the article published by MalaysiaNow on 19 June 2025, written by Kua Kia Soong, a former MP and a director of rights group Suaram.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the stance and views of Permadu Malaysia.
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Adapted by Fauzi Kadir Chief Editor |
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