Royal Pardon Did Not Exonerate Anwar Waytha Tells Agc

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The royal pardon granted to Anwar Ibrahim before he became prime minister was an act of mercy by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and not an exoneration of guilt, Malaysian Advancement Party (MAP) president P Waythamoorthy said.
His remarks follows a statement by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) yesterday, stressing that there are no grounds to question Anwar’s qualification as an MP and prime minister.
The AGC said that this was because the royal pardon issued by the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted Anwar complete forgiveness and restored his status as if no offence had ever been committed.
The department said Waythamoorthy’s lawsuit challenging Anwar’s legitimacy as prime minister and MP was based on the argument that the pardon did not include the annulment of his disqualification under Article 48(1)(e) of the Federal Constitution.
“The attorney-general’s attempt to distort this legal fact is a clear violation of public trust and a dangerous disregard for the (Federal) Constitution.
“Under Article 42, a pardon granted to Anwar is an act of mercy by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong; it does not rewrite history, erase a conviction, or pretend that no offence was committed,” he said.
Waythamoorthy said that the only exception to this is if a conviction was removed by a court of law.
“My suit does not challenge the pardon itself, but the constitutional reality: Article 48(1)(e), read with Article 48(3), imposes a five-year disqualification from contesting in a general election starting from May 16, 2018.
“There is no provision in the Federal Constitution for the erasure of a conviction once a person has been found guilty by the highest court in the land.
“My civil suit against Anwar does not challenge the pardon; it addresses the clear constitutional consequence of that conviction,” the former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (National Unity and Social Wellbeing) said.
‘Reckless PR for PM’
Waythamoorthy also accused Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar of “clearly managing the damaged perception against an unlawfully appointed prime minister” by publicly distorting the law.
“This is not just reckless; it undermines the very rule of law he is supposed to protect. Where does this logic come from if not from his political master? Malaysians deserve honesty, not legal fiction dressed up as authority,” he said.
Attorney-General Dusuki MokhtarADSOn Tuesday, he filed an originating summons against Anwar, claiming that Anwar’s status as MP and prime minister is unconstitutional.
In the suit filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Waythamoorthy is seeking a declaration that Anwar’s disqualification as an MP “was never revoked” by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in accordance with Article 48(3) of the Federal Constitution.
He is also seeking a court declaration that Anwar’s victory in the Tambun parliamentary seat during the 15th general election on Nov 19, 2022, and his subsequent appointment as prime minister on Nov 24, 2022, are null and void.
Nothing but the truth
Yesterday, he directly challenged Anwar to release the full documents of his royal pardon petition within 24 hours.
In a statement, Waythamoorthy called for complete transparency regarding Anwar’s petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong that led to his release from prison on May 16, 2018.
The former minister said only such a disclosure would allow Malaysians to know exactly what their current prime minister requested from the king.
Citing official records, Waythamoorthy said Anwar submitted three separate petitions for pardon.
The first two - submitted on March 16, 2015, and Feb 27, 2017 - were both rejected by the king. His third petition, submitted on May 16, 2018, was approved.
He also questioned whether Anwar followed traditional clemency procedures by acknowledging guilt and expressing remorse.
Following this, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan questioned the timing of the lawsuit,  saying that it came after Waythamoorthy’s meeting with Bersatu leaders.
‘Tyranny of minority’
Earlier today, Anwar issued a stern warning against tyranny from both majority and minority groups amid Waythamoorthy’s lawsuit, appearing to take aim at the MAP chief during his address to a civil service assembly in Putrajaya.
“That is (someone from) a minority group… so, when I issue this warning, this is not a warning to the majority only.
“This is what I said as the tyranny of the minority, and we will not tolerate (as we have) zero tolerance for any form of racism and religious bigotry,” Anwar said in his speech. - Mkini

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