Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, currently serving out a five-year prison sentence for sodomy, is planning to attend the opening session of Parliament on March 9.
Parliamentary whip for Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Johari Abdul told The Sun Daily that Anwar’s office had received the invitations to attend Parliament’s opening session by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on March 9, and another invitation to attend the parliamentary session between March 9 and April 9.
“The chief secretariat to opposition leader, Abdul Malek Hussein, had responded that Anwar will be attending both this morning,” he said.
Johari maintains that Anwar, despite his conviction and imprisonment, is still legally the member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh and the leader of the Federal Opposition, as per Article 48 (4)(c) of the Federal Constitution.
The Article states that a parliamentary lawmaker’s designation as such is to be determined only once a petition seeking a royal pardon for said lawmaker’s crime has been completed.
Last week, Anwar’s family submitted a petition to the Royal Palace seeking a royal pardon for him on his sodomy conviction.
Johari also called on Speaker of Parliament Pandikar Amin Mulia to ensure that Anwar would be able to attend the parliamentary sessions, and hoped to arrange a meeting between Pandikar and Anwar this week, before Parliament convenes.
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