FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Pardons Board meets tomorrow on Anwar's release

Pardons Board meets tomorrow on Anwar's release

The Pardons Board will meet tomorrow to discuss the release of PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

While the meeting was originally thought to be held today, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said it has now been changed to tomorrow.

“As such, any programme relating to the release of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be postponed until further announcement,” said Fahmi.

Bernama reported that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V hoped that all procedures relating to the proceedings of the Pardons Board Committee for a royal pardon for Anwar would be finalised tomorrow.

It quoted Istana Negara Datuk Pengkalan Bijaya Diraja Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan Ab Aziz as saying in a statement last night that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was pleased and satisfied with all procedures related to the proceedings of the Pardons Board Committee on the matter.

In 2015, Anwar was sentenced to five years’ jail after the Federal Court upheld his guilty verdict for sodomy.

Anwar is scheduled for early release from imprisonment next month and is currently recovering from surgery at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital.

Pardons Board meets tomorrow on Anwar\'s release

In Putrajaya, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said a conviction of any crime including sodomy is pardonable by the King as long as there is a basis.

“Any individual who has a conviction can be given a royal pardon if there is a basis,” he told a press conference when asked if it was fair for individuals who have committed crimes such as sodomy to be pardoned.

“We cannot simply keep punishing a person for a crime they committed, or sentence them to lifetime punishment.

“We have a time limit, and the time can be shortened or extended.

“On our promise to get a pardon for Anwar, it will continue, but the process will be followed.

“Even though it has been agreed, the Pardons Board meeting may be slightly delayed because we want to follow the rules.”

 

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