PORT DICKSON: PAS hopes to win the Port Dickson by-election through the back door as they have faith that the court will disqualify Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim after he wins the pool and then the candidate with the second highest votes will be declared the area's Member of Parliament.
PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (pic) repeated his claim that Anwar is not eligible to contest in the Oct 13 by-election because the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had only granted him a "full pardon" and not a "free pardon".
"If we get the second highest votes, there is a possibility for us to be declared as a winner," he said during a press conference at the PAS’ Operations Centre in Bagan Pinang on Sunday (Oct 7).
Takiyuddin drew a comparison to an incident in 1995, when Wee Choo Keong, the (then) DAP candidate who had won the Bukit Bintang seat (Kuala Lumpur) in the 1995 general election, was disqualified due to a controversial court case.
“The (election) petition was accepted (by the Election Court) and Barisan Nasional was (then) declared the winner in Bukit Bintang."
In the 1995 elections, Barisan Nasional candidate Dr Lee Chong Meng was the candidate who got second highest number of votes.
A case has been filed by a registered voter on Anwar’s status, and Takiyuddin hopes that the Kuala Lumpur High Court will decide the matter as soon as possible.
Takiyuddin said he is "confident" that the court will decide to disqualify Anwar.
“If the court doesn’t make a decision, we might file (an election) petition," he added.
“So, we are hoping for that (to happen). This by-election is burdening the people and it’s wasting government expenditure.”
However, it was reported on Sept 28 that Attorney General Tommy Thomas has confirmed that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is eligible to contest in the Port Dickson by-election.
This follows a letter dated Sept 21 signed by Thomas, saying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted a “full pardon” (pengampunan penuh) to Anwar.
Despite this, PAS is pressing on in full faith for its position.
Under Article 48(1(e) of the Federal Constitution, Takiyuddin claimed that an individual is able to contest in an election only if he was granted a "free pardon".
Anwar was sentenced to a five-year jail term in 2015 for sodomising his former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who is also contesting as an independent candidate in the Port Dickson by-election.
“He did not obtain a free pardon and therefore, he is not qualified to stand in this by-election.
"And if his (Anwar) victory is disqualified in the coming polls, we might need to hold another by-election,” said Takiyuddin, who is also the MP for Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
“Therefore we are urging the court to make a decision as soon as possible to avoid this happening.”
"Whether or not Anwar is sworn in or appointed as prime minister, the court’s job is to interpret the law.
PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who was also present during the press conference, said that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shouldn’t be dragged into this matter.
“The Agong shouldn’t have been dragged into this matter. It’s not the Ruler’s job to determine whether Anwar is qualified or not.
“To the relevant quarters who made this decision (approved Anwar’s candidacy), it could undermine our legislative system,” he added.
Meanwhile, Anwar himself appeared unfazed over Takiyuddin’s comments, saying that the PAS secretary-general lacked modal (ideas) in his arguments.
“He does not have any other modal. Let him be. Let him ask in court,” he said, when met by reporters at a hi-tea session with residents at Bakar Awang in the Chuah state constituency (part of the PD parliament seat).
The Oct 13 polls will see a seven-cornered fight between Pakatan, PAS and five independent candidates, including Isa Samad, who was the former Umno strongman of the area.- Star
The fool says a full pardon which amounts to no record of offence is not the same as a free pardon. Free pardon is not defined in the Constitution. Cambridge Dictionary defines free pardon as an occasion when someone who has committed a crime is officially forgiven. According to Encyclopedia Britannia a full pardon is unclear in some jurisdictions. In England it is said that a full pardon clears the person from all infamy, removing all disqualifications and other obloquy, so that a pardoned person may take action for defamation against anyone who thereafter refers to him as a convict. PAS is such a loser by suggesting a back door entry to Parliament. Maybe they should team up with that backdoor fella
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