‘Anwar cannot run for Kajang by-election after sodomy conviction’
(Fz) – PKR’s Kajang move has been foiled by the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal of sodomy charges and sentence him to five years of imprisonment.
The Selangor Constitution provides that a person is disqualified from running to be a member of the State Legislative Assembly immediately upon conviction of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, or to a fine of not less than RM2,000, and has not received a free pardon.
“He cannot run for Kajang. But he remains an MP until all appeal recourse is exhausted,” constitutional lawyer Syahredzan Johan told fz.com.
Article 64(1)(e) of the state constitution stipulates that an assembly member is disqualified upon conviction in a court of law with above the limit mentioned earlier.
However, Article 64(3) reveals that upon conviction, the disqualification has 14-day leeway before it takes effect.
