Nurul Izzah to sit in Opposition Leader's chair tomorrow

The Lembah Pantai parliamentarian said, there is no reason why she could not represent her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in debating the King’s address, unless it was prevented by certain parties.

"I am going to read out a speech by the Opposition Leader to deliver the voice of Permatang Pauh (the parliament constituency represented by Anwar) in Parliament tomorrow.

"I do not see any obstacles in representing him as Datuk Saifuddin Nasution had previously represented Anwar in reading the Oppostion Leader’s speech," Nurul Izzah was quoted by The Malaysian Insider as saying.

Earlier, the Prisons Department had rejected Anwar's application to attend the sitting, which begins today.

In a statement, the department had said services and facilities for all prisoners, including Anwar who is serving five years in prison, is the same and in accordance with the provisions of laws, regulations and procedures.

Last week, Pakatan Rakyat sent a letter to Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to apply for permission for Anwar to attend the Parliament sitting on grounds that he was still the Opposition Leader following the petition for a royal pardon from the King applied by his family.

Anwar’s family had submitted the petition on Feb 24 to the Pardons Board after the Opposition Leader was convicted in his second sodomy case by the courts on Feb 10.

At the same time, Nurul Izzah, who is PKR vice-president, said Pakatan MPs will not stop trying for Anwar's participation in the Dewan Rakyat. She maintained that her father was a 'political prisoner'.