Aliran is appalled that the Court of Appeal did not state the grounds for dismissing Anwar Ibrahim’s appeal against his conviction on four corruption charges and his sentencing to six years’ imprisonment on 14 April 1999.

It is all the more distressing that the Court of Appeal despite having a written 59-page judgment refused to disclose its reasons when it dismissed Anwar’s appeal this morning.

When a person’s freedom is involved and when a conviction had deprived that freedom, the Court of Appeal as a dispenser of justice is expected to devote some time in explaining its decision. When this norm is not observed, it leaves the public with a shattered perception that everything is not right with our system of justice.