The Malaysian Bar Council has expressed "dismay" over the incident, saying it infringed the constitutional right of a person to defend himself.

CNN: ASIANOW - TIME Asia

The Bar Council, the Malaysian lawyers' governing body, has called for an independent investigation of Mr Anwar's claim.

ECONOMIST: Malaysia

Crossbench peer and chancellor of the University of the West of England Baroness Butler-Sloss said she was concerned that "Malaysian students who come to Bristol to do the bar vocational course or the solicitors course in order to go back and better run the rule of law in Malaysia" would be unable to study in the UK after the changes.

BBC: Student visa cuts 'will do enormous damage' - Labour