Fahmi: Those questioning Anwar's eligibility question the King

PORT DICKSON: People should stop questioning the eligibility of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the candidate for the by-election here, says PKR strategic communications chief Fahmi Fadzil (pic).

He said the decision had been made by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant Anwar a full pardon.

"The Prison Department official declared that he (Anwar) had been given a full pardon by the King, and that he has no criminal record.

"So those who question this issue are actually questioning the Agong, who granted the full pardon.

"For us, there is no issue on Anwar's qualification to stand as a candidate in the Port Dickson by-election," said Fahmi in press conference on Tuesday (Oct 9).

Fahmi said this in reference to a court summon filed by a voter in Port Dickson, requesting that the court declare that Anwar is not qualified to contest in any parliamentary seat.

However, lawyer J. Leela, who represents Anwar, has filed an application to strike out the originating summons by voter Noraziah Mohd Shariff, on the grounds that the Noraziah had no locus standi, and it was unfair.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, too, has said that the King had only granted the PKR president-elect a full pardon and not a free pardon.

Takiyuddin argued that to be eligible to contest in the by-election, Anwar should be given "pengampunan bebas" or free pardon under a different provision of the Federal Constitution.

He said Anwar would only be able to contest if he was given a free pardon under Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution, which addressed whether an individual was eligible to contest as a wakil rakyat.

To this, Fahmi reiterated that these parties should not dispute the royal decree of the King and his rights under the Constitution to grant a pardon.

"Unless they want to sembah derhaka (be disloyal)," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on criticism on social media that Pakatan Harapan was running its campaign similar to Barisan Nasional when it was in power, Fahmi said it was a misconception.

"That is a very big misconception because for one, our ethos is cash is not King.

"We don't practise such politics. We do not offer cash, and we believe that the people hold the power to bring change, not money," said Fahmi.