Anwar’s decision to seek royal pardon ‘surprising’, says PAS lawmaker

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad says it is difficult to comment on whether the decision by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s family to seek a royal pardon is an admission of his guilt without looking at the basis of the application. 

(The Rakyat Post) – The decision by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s family to seek a royal pardon has surprised PAS lawmaker Khalid Samad.

Speaking to The Rakyat Post, the Shah Alam Member of Parliament said that he had expected the family to apply for a judicial review on the Sodomy 2 verdict instead of a royal pardon.

“I am unaware of this. But this is, of course, PKR’s decision and we respect that,” he said.

When asked whether the decision implied Anwar’s guilt in the sodomy case as Shah Alam MP had previously said before, Khalid said it is difficult to comment on the matter now without looking at the basis of the royal pardon application.

“I would have to look on the basis of the application first. I believe that his family will strenuously put Anwar as a prisoner of conscience and that the charges were trumped up,” the PAS politician said, adding that he would have to look at the application first before commenting further.

Earlier this evening, The Malay Mail Online reported that the Opposition leader’s wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, and his second daughter, Nurul Nuha Anwar, would be submitting the application for the royal pardon at the Istana Negara today.

Subject to approval and subsequent pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Anwar could be freed and would be allowed to retain the parliamentary seat.

Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said seeking a royal pardon was an admission of guilt.

An appeal, he explained, was the only way to absolve one from guilt.

Tan, who is a lawyer, said Anwar should have just applied for a judicial review, especially if there was new evidence or felt that a grave injustice had been served.

“It’s weird. I have never seen any case where a guilty party seeks a royal pardon in two weeks.

“Normally one does so if one is aged or has been on good behaviour,” he said when contacted.

Those who believe that Anwar was innocent, he said, should take note of this.