Anwar Informs Dewan Rakyat It Was The Agong Who Took The Initiative To Grant Him Pardon
"I did not ask for the pardon because I was punished. I want to make it clear, on the record, in the Hansard," Anwar said today, 20 December.
By Sadho Ram — 20 Dec 2022, 05:46 PM — Updated over 1 year ago
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed the Dewan Rakyat today, 20 December, that he did not ask for the royal pardon in 2018
Anwar was released from prison on 16 May 2018 after receiving the full royal pardon, which was granted by Kelantan's Sultan Muhammad V, who was the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the time.
Speaking during the second sitting of the 15th parliament session this morning, Anwar stated that he was granted the full royal pardon because the Agong at the time felt there had been a "travesty of justice".
According to Anwar, the Agong himself took the initiative
"The one who took the initiative at the time was the Agong," Anwar said, adding, "[Sultan Muhammad V] called me when I was still in the rehabilitation centre, and said, 'Anwar, I will give a full pardon as I followed the developments in your trial (and there was) a clear travesty of justice'. That was the phrase he used."
Anwar told Dewan Rakyat that he wanted to put on record that he did not agree with the court's judgment on his case, as he felt there were breaches in the principles of justice.
"I did not ask for the pardon because I was punished. I want to make it clear, on the record, in the Hansard," he informed his fellow members of parliament (MPs) present.
This comes after opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin questioned Anwar's sexuality during a debate yesterday, 19 December, on a motion of confidence for the Prime Minister.
