Pardon petition seen as a strategic move

It is to help Anwar maintain his political relevance, says analyst Shahbudin.

PETALING JAYA: A political analyst has speculated that the decision to seek a royal pardon for Anwar Ibrahim is a move to force the cancellation or at least a delay of the Permatang Pauh by-election and to help the Opposition Leader maintain his political relevance.

Shahbudin Husin says in a blog entry that the Yang Dipertuan Agong might take time – even a year – to decide whether or not to grant a pardon and, until then, neither the Permatang Pauh seat nor the post of Parliamentary Opposition Leader can be declared vacant.

He notes that Anwar is maintaining that he is innocent of the charge of sodomy despite his family’s petition for the pardon.

He disagrees with the contention that seeking a pardon amounts to an admission of guilt. “Petitioning the Yang Dipertuan Agong for a pardon is part of the process of freeing oneself from imprisonment after all the court processes have been gone through, and it does not mean admitting that one is guilty. It would be a waste not to take advantage of this constitutional provision.”

If no pardon is sought, he says, someone else will eventually take over as Opposition Leader and Anwar may gradually fade into insignificance.

With Anwar continuing to lead the opposition, even if it is from behind walls, the argument about who should take the post of Opposition Leader is automatically ended, Shahbudin points out.

He also says even the tensions within Pakatan Rakyat, particularly between PAS and DAP, might loosen now that there is a possibility that Anwar will be freed.

“Whatever the case, the decision to petition for a pardon will be seen as an out-of-the-box strategy thought out by Anwar in prison.

“It does appear that Anwar is a persistent fighter who will not admit defeat.”