High Court judge Datuk Nik Hasmat Nik Mohamed said that denial of contact visits by prison authorities was based on discretion that is provided for by existing laws, and the denials were not arbitrary or unreasonable as argued by Anwar’s lawyers N. Surendran and Latheefa Koya.

As such, she dismissed applications for both certiorari and mandamus orders to the prison authorities to allow contact visits, and ordered a cost of RM1,000.

Surendran however said that Anwar and his family members would appeal the decision and are confident of success in their appeals.