Anwar not eligible to contest, insists PAS sec-gen

PORT DICKSON: PAS continues to harp on Pakatan Harapan candidate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s eligibility to stand in the by-election here.

This is despite Attorney General Tommy Thomas confirming in a letter dated Sept 21 that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had granted a “full pardon” to Anwar and that he was “not disqualified from standing as a candidate”.

Speaking to reporters, party secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the candidate with the second highest number of votes could turn out to be the eventual winner of the by-election should Anwar be disqualified by the court.

“If PAS gets the second highest number of votes, there is a possibility for us to be declared a winner,” said Takiyuddin at the PAS’ operations centre in Bagan Pinang here yesterday.

Also present was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

Takiyuddin insisted that Anwar was ineligible to contest because the King only granted a “full pardon”, and not a “free pardon”.

Under Article 48(1(e) of the Federal Constitution, he said an indi- vidual could only contest if he was granted a free pardon.

He drew comparison to a case in 1995 in which the then DAP MP for Bukit Bintang, Wee Choo Keong, was disqualified and Barisan Nasional declared the eventual winner.

“So, we are hoping for that (to happen),” he said.

Last month, Port Dickson voter Noraziah Mohd Shariff had filed an originating summons against Anwar and the Federal Territories Pardons Board to seek a declaration that the PKR president-elect was not qualified to contest any parliamentary seat.

“If the court doesn’t make a decision, we may file a petition.

“If his (Anwar) victory is disqualified in the coming polls, we may need to hold another by-election.

“So, we are urging the court to make a decision as soon as possible to avoid this,” he said.

Later, at a hi-tea session with residents in Bakar Arang, Anwar appeared unfazed over Takiyuddin’s remark, saying that he “lacked capital” in his arguments.

“Let him be. Let him ask in the court.”