Royal pardon sought for Anwar

MALAYSIA: -- The family of Malaysia’s opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has submitted an application for a royal pardon over his sodomy conviction, according to PKR vice-president Tian Chua, New Straits Times and The Star Online reported.

Anwar was sentenced to five years imprisonment on Feb 10 after the Federal Court upheld the appellate court’s sodomy conviction against him.

PKR vice-president Tian Chua said the decision to seek a royal pardon from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah was made by Anwar’s wife, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Azizah, his eldest daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar and second daughter Nurul Nuha Anwar.

“It is now in the hands of the King to decide on the application for Anwar’s release,” Tian Chua was quoted by New Straits Times as saying.

On Monday, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli had said the party would not seek a royal pardon for Anwar’s release, adding that no such instructions were given by Anwar to proceed. It is understood that an admission of guilt is required for a royal pardon to be considered.

According to The Star Online, the latest move is seen as an attempt to prevent the PKR adviser and Opposition leader from being disqualified as a member of parliament at the end of the 14-day period to file a petition for pardon following the Federal Court’s verdict on Feb 10.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/royal-pardon-sought-anwar

-- Thai PBS 2015-02-25

It'll be a freezing day in hell when this happens.

They want him locked away so he can't win government, which he could easily if he was able to run for office.

Well, at least it forces the Malaysian king to show his real colors. Is he a man of the people or a UMNO puppet? Remember the opposition got 52% of the votes in the last election, despite the widespread election fraud in the government's favor. The king can improve his popularity immensely, but does he have the courage?