Anwar says return to Parliament a vindication

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is happy to be sworn in as the new Port Dickson MP, saying that his return to Parliament is a vindication against all the allegations hurled at him in the past.

Speaking to reporters in his first press conference as the Port Dickson MP, Anwar said that he had been deprived of his right to participate in politics due to his previous prison sentence, referring to the infamous Sodomy I and Sodomy II cases.

“Every time I was sent to prison, I was dismissed and had no avenue to appeal to a just court or to be adjudicated fairly.

“But now I feel vindicated … but then, I share the pride with the people of Port Dickson because of their wisdom,” he said on Monday (Oct 15).

Anwar said his first priority following his return to the august House was to assist the Pakatan Harapan government in implementing parliamentary reforms, which was part of the coalition's election manifesto.

“Our Parliament in the past was considered as a rubber-stamp. MPs would debate, but of course they would just endorse whatever was decided.

“But in Pakatan's manifesto, we have a new approach to ensure that Parliament is more effective through the formation of select committees or various other discussions,” he added.

Anwar also said that the Cabinet and the Prime Minister have endorsed his plans to implement parliamentary reforms.

“They have given the green light based on the manifesto and I have actually deliberated at some length with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on how to ensure that Parliament is effective, (one) that serves constituencies and the nation at large,” he said.

The 71-year-old PKR president-elect also said he was happy to sit beside Iskandar Puteri MP Lim Kit Siang, as he said that it was a nostalgic moment when they were both the Opposition prior to the historical May 9 polls.

“When I was the Permatang Pauh MP, during the Opposition days, I was also sitting beside him,” he said.

Anwar added that he would organise a meeting with de facto Law Minister Datuk Liew Vui Keong and also Speaker Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof on his plans for parliamentary reforms.

Anwar won the Port Dickson by-election with a 23,560 majority in a seven-cornered fight on Oct 13.