PKR makes request for jailed Anwar to attend Parliament

PETALING JAYA: PKR has sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia requesting arrangements are made for Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to attend the upcoming sitting on March 9.

The letter, sent by PKR's Parliamentary Whip Datuk Johari Abdul, quotes Article 48 of the Federal Constitution which states that Anwar is legally allowed to attend sittings until his pardon petition is finalised.

"The highest authority is the Constitution, and it says that as long as Anwar's pardon petition is not finalised, he has not lost his qualification as a Member of Parliament," Johari said at a press conference at the PKR headquarters on Monday.

Johari clarified that the petition sent to the Pardons Board - which is chaired by the Yang-di-Pertuan Agong - could take as long as six months to be finalised, which entails that Anwar can still attend Parliament sittings.

Johari said Anwar had received an official invitation to attend the sitting, and his chief secretary Abdul Malik Hussin had replied on his behalf that he (Anwar) would be attending.

Johari said he was hopeful Anwar would be able to sit in Parliament barring unforeseen difficulties.

"Word around is that he will be attending," said Johari, who said Pandikar had clarified that Anwar was still a Member of Parliament and the Opposition leader.

However, he said that Anwar's attendence could be barred by Parliament itself or if the Prisons Department denies the request.

If the request to Pandikar fails, Johari said that he would arrange for a follow-up meeting.

"I would then refer to Tan Sri (Pandikar). I will make an appointment with Tan Sri to get further clarification," said Johari, who added that Anwar's request was the first of its kind.

Johari said that the party expects to get a response from Pandikar before March 9.

The petition for pardon is in connection with Anwar's Feb 10 conviction and five-year jail sentence for sodomy.