PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim will not be able to contest the Kajang by-election on March 23 as his Sodomy II conviction disqualifies him as a candidate.

PKR vice-president N Surendran said since Anwar has been convicted, "disqualification cannot be avoided".

Anwar has been granted a stay of execution with regard to his five-year jail term pending an appeal expected to be filed with the Federal Court.

Article 47 of the federal constitution states that an individual who is convicted will not be qualified to be a candidate if the conviction includes a prison term of more than a year, or a fine above RM 2,000.

This is also stated in the Election Commission’s (EC) guidebook for election candidates.

Despite the stay, Anwar appears to be, at least by the rules, still disqualified to contest in Kajang.

This will throw serious doubts into PKR's Kajang move, raising questions as to who will replace Anwar as the party’s candidate for the by-election.

This could also mean that Abdul Khalid Ibrahim will remain the Selangor menteri besar for the foreseeable future.

Rush for sentencing 'fuelled anger'

Meanwhile outside the courthouse today, supporters who had waited from day to night were charged with emotions.

However, after the tears and anger, the supporters, mostly party loyalists, believed that the verdict today was to thwart Anwar's ambition in Kajang.

"BN knows that it is a lost cause for them in Kajang so they are doing this to prevent Anwar from contesting the by-election," said Roslan Mat, who describes himself as a staunch PKR supporter.

At certain times, the gathering of some 60 people at the entrance of the Palace of Justice became personal, with chants chastising senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah who was appointed deputy public prosecutor in the case.

"Shafee the destroyer, Shafee the stooge," they chanted.

One of those present, Sangetha Jeyakumar said the hasty push for a verdict and sentence fuelled anger among the supporters.

"Even the recent ‘Allah’ case had to adjourn before a decision is produced, but why the rush for Anwar?" she questioned.