A-G objects to Anwar's application for judicial review on Pardons Board decision

The Attorney-General's Chambers has objected to an application by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his family to seek leave for judicial review on the decision by the Pardons Board to reject clemency petition in connection with his sodomy conviction.

Senior Federal Counsel Shamsul Bolhassan, who represented the Pardons Board, Attorney-General and the Malaysian Government as respondents, said they objected to the application by Anwar, 68, and his family based on the law relating to the decision by the Pardons Board to the Federal Court.

He said High Court Judge Datuk Nor Bee Ariffin fixed April 12 to hear the objection, as well as Anwar's application.

During proceedings in chambers today, Anwar represented himself while Latheefa Koya and counsel N. Surendran acted for Anwar's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and their two daughters, Nurul Izzah and Nurul Nuha.

On June 24, 2015, Anwar and his family applied for an order to quash the Pardons Board decision on March 16, 2015, and urged the board to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant Anwar pardon and free him.

They also applied for a mandamus order to urge the Pardons Board to sit again and reconsider all factors relating to the petition for royal pardon submitted by Anwar's family, and appropriately advice the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Anwar, in his affidavit to support the application, claimed the decision by the Pardons Board was reached in contravention of the basic rules of justice and was therefore, invalid.

He also claimed the board's decision was never given in writing to him or his family members, and that the decision was flawed as the attorney-general at that time, was an interested party who had a prolonged hatred towards him.

Anwar is serving a five-year jail sentence in the Sungai Buloh Prison after the Federal Court on Feb 10, 2015 upheld the conviction and sentence for sodomising his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, in 2008.