Anwar no longer Permatang Pauh MP, says lawyer

(The Star) – Senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh says the petition for a royal pardon over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction by his family has been disposed, and he is no longer Permatang Pauh MP.

“Our stand is a decision has been made. The Constitution has spoken for itself,” Amarjeet said to reporters.

However, Anwar’s lawyers N. Surendran, Latheefa Koya and Dr Dheeraj Bhar said the decision by the Pardons Board was not confirmed and would only be made known in the Appellate and Special Powers Court here on Wednesday.

The decision was conveyed to Anwar’s lawyers in the form of an affidavit issued by Datuk Nursiah Arshad, the Prime Minister’s Department legal affairs director-general, who is also part of the Pardons Board secretariat.

Amarjeet said the applicants had asked for the delay in announcing the decision in order to convey it to Anwar first.

Surendran confirmed that neither Anwar nor his family was informed of the decision, which was made Thursday.