It is not unusual for the Chief Justice of Malaysia to issue directives to expedite court cases, especially if the cases are of public importance, a number of lawyers say.

"Yes, he does that, even for criminal cases and corruption cases involving public servants," said lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu when contacted by Malaysiakini today.

He was responding to allegations that two cases challenging the Election Commission's (EC) redelineation exercise had been expedited on the direct instructions of Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif...