KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 — The Prisons Department allegedly violated the Federal Constitution when it barred Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from attending Parliament as the leader is afforded full rights under the apex law to exercise his duties as a lawmaker, a PAS MP claimed today.

PAS’ Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin said it beggars belief that the department’s chief commissioner did not consider provisions under the Federal Constitution as a valid reason to allow Anwar to attend the ongoing Dewan Rakyat meeting.

“Constitutionally speaking, the seat cannot be vacated. So how is it, when the seat is not vacant, that he cannot attend (Parliament)?” he said at a news conference at the Parliament lobby.

“What other reason (is valid) other than the Constitution?” he added.

Despite his current incarceration for sodomy, Anwar legally remains as Permatang Pauh MP and Opposition Leader pending the disposal of an application for a royal pardon.

On February 24, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia confirmed that he can only determine Anwar’s disqualification from the latter’s seat once the application for royal pardon — submitted by Anwar’s family — is disposed of as outlined in Article 48(4)(C) of the Federal Constitution.

Earlier today, Pandikar replied to Hanipa in an official letter rejecting the latter’s motion to debate Anwar’s right to attend Parliament despite his incarceration.

Pandikar had said in his letter, which was sighted by Malay Mail Online, that the motion was rejected on grounds that it is not urgent and that permission for Anwar to attend Parliament is subject to the decision of the prisons chief commissioner.

Hanipa today stressed that it is the Speaker’s duty to look out for the interests of members of the House, claiming that Parliament as an independent institution should not be subject to external influence.

“Any decision that infringes on the constitutional provision should be condemned, and Parliament should protect the interests of MPs,” he said, adding that he will file an appeal against the Speaker’s decision.

Meanwhile, Pakatan Rakyat members today endorsed a petition seeking one million signatures to urge the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant clemency to Anwar.

At a brief news conference outside the Parliament building, PR lawmakers along with social activists Wong Tack and Datuk A. Samad Said said they will be heading out on a nationwide drive to build support for the petition.

The opposition will also get all its MPs to collect signatures from their respective constituencies and submit their petitions separately to the palace.

“The target is to get one million signatures by May 1, when we will organise a big event,” said PKR’s Bukit Katil MP Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.