Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has decided not to seek a royal pardon that would release him from his sodomy conviction and five-year prison sentence, effectivly disqualifying him from holding on to his Permatang Pauh Parliamentary seat.
Anwar’s lawyer and fellow PKR leader Sivarasa Rasiah said the deadline for the plea was passed yesterday. Instead of seeking a royal pardon, Anwar’s legal team will apply for a review of the Federal Court decision under Rule 137 of the Federal Court Rules. A judicial review is not possible for a criminal conviction.
“His disqualification is only delayed if he petitions for a pardon. Since that has not happened, it is now up to the Speaker to make a decision,” Sivarasa told The Malay Mail Online‘s Melissa Chi via text message yesterday.
Parliamentary Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had previously announced that Anwar would have 14 days from the date of his incarceration (February 10) before he would be disqualified from holding elected office, as per Article 48 Clause 4(a) of the Federal Constitution.
In the event of Anwar submitting plea for a royal pardon, that 14-day period would have been extended, but sources close to Anwar revealed that he would not do so if in entailed having to admit his guilt in sodomising his former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
It now falls to the PKR and its partners in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to deliberate on who will take the reigns as Parliamentary Opposition leader.
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