When former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan read Malaysiakini’s report that police had questioned lawyers for more than three hours over the custodial death of Noorizwan Zulkefly, her reaction was immediate and unfiltered.

But Ambiga’s indignation went beyond the questioning of the lawyers. She argued that something far more fundamental was at stake, as it involved the rule of law itself and the quest for justice.

In a subsequent statement to Malaysiakini, she reminded the government that “every civilised society is built upon the pursuit of truth”.

She did not mince words about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, describing the latest developments as a “new low”.