HARAPAN BREAKTHROUGH? ANWAR TO TAKE A REST FIRST TO ‘GIVE SPACE FOR SMOOTH POWER TRANSITION’, AGREES AZIZAH: AGONG CONFIRMS MEETING PARDONS BOARD ON MAY 16

KUALA LUMPUR — Give time for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to rest before returning to discharge his political duty.

Anwar’s wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said in addition, space should be given so that the power transition to the present government could be implemented smoothly and peacefully.

“Let him regain his health first and allow the transition process to go smoothly before he returns to participate (in political activities). Alhamdulillah his health is getting better and (we are) waiting for his release to celebrate the Ramadan with family members and perform the ‘tarawikh’ prayers,” the PKR president told reporters here today.

Dr Wan Azizah, who has been announced as the deputy prime minister, said that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had contacted her personally to inform that the Pardons Board would have a meeting on Wednesday to obtain the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V for Anwar’s release.

Dr Wan Azizah had earlier visited Anwar who was undergoing treatment at the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital.

Anwar, who was jailed at the Sungai Buloh Prison, was scheduled to be released on June 8. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA – Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V has given the green light to proceed with the Royal Pardon meeting for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic), but was requested to postpone it to Wednesday (May 16) by the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The Yang di-Pertuan is pleased and satisfied with all procedures relating to the proceedings by the Pardons Board for Datuk Seri Anwar that was fixed for tomorrow, May 15, at 11am,” said the Comptroller of the Royal Household Datuk Wan Ahmad Dahlan in a statement on Monday.

However, Wan Ahmad said that the Prime Minister’s Office requested that the meeting be postponed to Wednesday at 11am.

“The Yang di-Pertuan Agong wishes that this matter be finalised on May 16, ahead of Ramadan,” said Wan Ahmad.

 Meanwhile, Anwar’s lawyer R. Sivarasa also confirmed the postponement in a separate statement.

“I have confirmed with Datin Paduka Zauyah Be Loth Khan, Solicitor-General II, who will represent the Attorney-General at the meeting, that all documentation for the pardon petition is in order and complete,” he said in a statement on Monday.

“The petition is submitted by family members and is based on the ground that the conviction of DSAI is a miscarriage of justice, and secondly, on his current health situation,” said Sivarasa.

He said that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had spoken to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed on the matter.

“The Prime Minister has given his assurance that the meeting of the Pardons Board will proceed as scheduled at 11am Wednesday,” said Sivarasa.

Bernama had earlier reported that Anwar’s daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is PKR vice-president, said that the Pardons Board committee would meet on Tuesday (May 15) to discuss his Royal Pardon.

– ANN