Anwar: I will not make an immediate return to politics

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says he will not make an immediate return to politics.

In his first press conference since his release at his residence in Segambut on Wednesday (May 16), Anwar said that he was only back as a citizen.

"I'll be taking time off to give a series of talks in Harvard, Georgetown and a few Muslim countries," said Anwar.

Anwar said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail should continue with their administration.

"I've given my assurance to Mahathir and Azizah that I'm here as a concerned citizen, with complete support for them manage the affairs of the country," he said.

He added that this was on the understanding they were "committed with the reform agenda, beginning with the judiciary, media and the entire apparatus”.

Anwar also said that as premier, Dr Mahathir had the prerogative to form the Cabinet, but added that the Prime Minister had given him assurance that he would consult party leaders before deciding on its composition.

Anwar walked out of the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital at 11.30am on Wednesday (May 16) after he was granted a royal pardon for a five-year sentence.

After his release, he immediately went to Istana Negara where he met the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

In 2015, Anwar was sentenced to five years' jail after the Federal Court upheld his guilty verdict for sodomy.

Anwar was initially scheduled to be released on June 8, 2018 after his five-year sentence that started on Feb 10, 2015 had been reduced for good behaviour.

His release came a week after Pakatan Harapan defeated Barisan Nasional at the polls on May 9.