Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia`s Federal Court on Monday ruled that the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim as deputy prime minister and finance minister 11 years ago was lawful.
Court of Appeal president Alauddin Mohammed Sheriff and Federal Court judges Mohammed Ghazali Mohammed Yusof and Abdull Hamid Embong unanimously dismissed Ibrahim`s final appeal for a declaration that his dismissal from the cabinet posts September 02, 1998, was unconstitutional.
Ibrahim was sacked by then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad after a sodomy charge was slapped against him.
He is currently fighting another sodomy charge levelled by an aide in June last year and the matter is before a court.
Ibrahim`s position as leader of opposition also came into question after three MPs left his party, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
This has left the PKR with 27 seats, one less than the Democratic Action Party (DAP), The Star newspaper said on Monday.
However, ethnic Indian leader Karpal Singh who heads the DAP that is part of the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat, has said Ibrahim can remain as leader of the opposition because he continues to command the confidence of opposition MPs.
IANS
