According to news outlet The Star, Anwar said any delays in announcing the new appointments stemmed from the lengthy appointment process.
“What crisis is there?” said Anwar. “I did not expel any judges, and I did not refer any judges to the tribunal.
“I did not interfere in any decisions, nor did I give any judges orders, unlike previous administrations.
“This is because the independence of the judiciary must be upheld,” he added.
Malaysia’s King Sultan Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim on Friday officially consented to the promotion of two judges nominated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The Chief Registrar of the Federal Court said in a statement issued on early Friday morning that Wan Farid Wan Salleh and Abu Bakar Jais have been appointed as Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal respectively.
A former politician from the United Malays National Organisation, Wan Farid retired from politics and was appointed a judge to the High Court in August 2018. He was promoted to the Court of Appeal in November last year.
Abu Bakar was appointed a judge to the High Court in July 2013, before being promoted to the Federal Court two years ago.
The leadership vacuum follows the retirement of Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat and President of the Court of Appeal Abang Iskandar Abang Ismail earlier this month, after both justices reached their retirement age of 66.
The statement added that Azizah Nawawi, a Court of Appeal judge, will be taking over as Chief Judge for the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak from Abdul Rahman Selbi, who is set to retire.
The new judges will be sworn in at the National Palace in Kuala Lumpur on Jul 28.
