PUTRAJAYA, Feb 26 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today it is for the Attorney-General to determine whether or not jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can attend Parliament next month.
Questions have been raised concerning the possibility of Anwar attending the Dewan Rakyat sitting when it resumes March 9, after the lower house speaker suspended disqualifying the PKR politician as Permatang Pauh MP pending an application for a royal pardon.
“I beg to differ with my deputy minister who made such a statement,” Zahid said, referring to Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Wan Jaafar.
The deputy home minister said yesterday that the ministry will consider allowing Anwar to attend the coming parliamentary meeting if the opposition leader applies for permission.
“I think that statement must be referred to the Attorney-General and there is no need for individual views, be it from among ministers or politicians,” Zahid said at a news conference here.
“We should leave the responsibility to legal practitioners, especially the Attorney-General to interpret (the matter) based on Article 49 of the (Federal) Constitution and other clauses found in relevant laws,” he added.
Yesterday, Wan Junaidi was reported as saying that Anwar, who is convicted for sodomy, must first apply to the Prisons Department and to Parliament before the Home Ministry can consider granting permission for the opposition leader to attend Parliament.
Wan Junaidi added that Anwar’s case is unique as it is the first time such a situation has come about and requires a closer look at the legal implications and prison regulations.
Anwar’s family members made an 11th hour submission for a royal pardon at Istana Negara last Tueaday, despite his lawyers initially denying that he will seek clemency.
Following the submission, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia announced that the Permatang Pauh seat will not be declared vacant until the process of seeking a royal pardon is completed.
Apart from being freed from prison, Anwar would also be able to retain his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat should the Yang di-Pertuan Agong grant him a royal pardon.
