SHAH ALAM: Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad (pic) believes that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not seek a Royal pardon "if it tantamounts to an admission of guilt."
He said applying for a pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong meant that one has committed the offence.
“If seeking a pardon is tantamount to admission of guilt, then I believe Anwar will not do so, but the decision is up to him and his lawyers," Khalid, who is PAS central committee member, told reporters on Thursday.
The Federal Court on Tuesday upheld the Court of Appeal's conviction and five-year jail term on Anwar for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan on June 26, 2008.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had said that Anwar remained the Opposition leader and Permatang Pauh MP for as long as it takes to dispose of a petition for pardon.
Lim referred to Article 48 Clause 4 (a) of the Federal Constitution that states the disqualification of a Member of Parliament will only take effect 14 days from the date he was convicted.
Under the same article, there is a clause (c) stating that if there is a petition for a royal pardon, the disqualification will only take effect after the petition is disposed of.
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