From hospital to palace and to freedom
PETALING JAYA: PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was taken from confinement to the palace after being released from custody, yet another milestone in his long and winding political journey.
Anwar walked out of the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital at 11.30am yesterday and headed straight to Istana Negara for an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, who granted a full pardon and cleared him of his 2014 sodomy conviction.
Cheers and shouts greeted the former deputy prime minister as he stepped out of the hospital lobby, where supporters gathered to witness the jubilant moment.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad met Anwar at the palace, located a half-hour’s drive away.
The two, accompanied by Anwar’s wife and PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as well as her deputy Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, were among those granted an almost hour-long audience with the King.
The Pardons Board had met earlier in the day at Istana Negara to discuss Anwar’s case.
Under Article 42(1) of the Federal Constitution, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong has the power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites for offences committed in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.
A crowd gathered along the road to the palace and some shouted cries of “Reformasi”, the movement set up by his followers after he was sacked as DPM on Sept 2, 1998.
More than 100 taxi drivers parked along the road to the palace gates to show their support.
Speaking to Bernama outside Istana Negara, Anwar expressed his gratitude to the King.
“Alhamdulillah (Praise be to God), thank you Tuanku,” said Anwar.
Dr Wan Azizah said she was grateful for her husband’s release.
“It was a most meaningful moment. I am grateful and relieved. It is a beginning to build the nation,” she said.
Anwar then headed to his home in Segambut to give his first media conference as a free man.
“Now there is a new dawn for Malaysia. I must thank the people of Malaysia,” said Anwar, flanked by Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Azmin and other PKR leaders.
“The entire spectrum of Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, have stood by the principles of democracy and freedom. They demand change.”
Anwar was charged with corruption and sodomy shortly after he was sacked in 1998 amid a fallout with Dr Mahathir.
He was found guilty and sentenced to a six-year jail term but was released in 2004 after the Federal Court overturned his sodomy conviction.
Anwar then contested and won the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in 2008 in a by-election held after Dr Wan Azizah, the incumbent, resigned to make way for him.
He retained the seat in the 2013 general election.
In 2014, the Court of Appeal sentenced him to five years’ jail after he was found guilty of sodomising former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. Anwar had earlier been acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2012.
In 2015, the Federal Court upheld the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
In the evening, Anwar addressed the Himpunan Merdeka Rakyat gathering to celebrate his release, after performing terawih prayers.
The event was held at Padang Timur here, the same venue where he held his final ceramah before the Federal Court decision that upheld his conviction.