YOURSAY ‘If rejected, he wins more sympathy, if granted, he wins his freedom.’

Is Anwar admitting guilt in seeking pardon?

Anonymous_1416272691: Basically, admission of guilt is not the question here. There should not be a correlation drawn between seeking a pardon for a conviction by a court of law and the admission of guilt.

In this case, since it is so widely publicised, the rakyat is the best judge of whether Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is guilty or not, regardless of the verdict of the judges, as judges are also fallen beings and can also err.

I strongly believe that if Anwar were to be tried in Australia or England or the United States, he would not have been convicted for a crime that is tainted with reasonable doubt. And I strongly believe if Anwar is tried by the rakyat, he would not be convicted either.

On such basis, he should be pardoned by his royal highness who is the highest symbol of justice in Malaysia.

Anonymous_1371482984: Whether Anwar is guilty as charged does not bother a lot of people but many believed that the charge was politically motivated.

That has generated a lot of sympathy for him and his family, more so after the disgusting roadshows by Sodomy II lead prosecutor Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who revealed evidence given in camera.

Petitioning for pardon by his family is a brilliant move. If the pardon is rejected, more sympathy will be generated since the public will view this as a vicious act. They feel that Anwar has suffered enough.

If the pardon is granted, Umno will have a headache having to contend with Anwar again.

Nil: Can we safely say that, according to the facts of the case and all the court proceedings, that Anwar was guilty of the charge and had been rightly convicted? Would courts in other countries have found Anwar guilty?

If Anwar was tried by jury, would he have been convicted? And what about a judicial review of the case? Can Anwar say, pardon me, your highness, but there has been a conspiracy and I did no wrong?

The Analyser: Why not do away with the judicial system altogether if court decisions can be overridden by one temporary king with no training in the law and he is responsible to anybody? This is absolute craziness.

Haveagreatday: When the highest court of our country dared not to make a ruling based on the facts of the case, it is perhaps understandable why Anwar's family have resorted to this approach.

Well, as some analysts have pointed out, it will be a test whether our government will walk its talk as far as Islamic compassion and forgiveness is concerned.

Warga Emas: At his age, his family is much concerned and worried about his poor health. The conditions in prison will gradually kill him - that’s what the family is worried about. My loved ones will do the same and seek all available avenues to get me out.

In fact the 52 percent who voted for Pakatan Rakyat should have done it on his behalf instead of going to the streets protesting. Which fool says that asking for a pardon means you are guilty?

Urkidding: If your beloved immediate family member was in this position, wouldn’t you do the same?

Look at the families of MH370; they are still fighting to know what was actually happened to their loved ones. Let us respect the family members for whatever they want to do, and give blessings to them.

Gen2indian: Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor sit on the Pardons Board? And another three to be appointed on the "advice" of the prime minister? Pigs will fly if Anwar gets out of this one.

Bystander: Notwithstanding that members on the Federal Territories Pardon Board, with the exception of the Agong, do not look too promising and hopeful, Anwar's family has done the right thing to exhaust all avenues.

This is to show the world that Malaysians in general are still a civilised lot and observe democracy. Throw the ball back to them and see how they would play it thereon.

Malaysia is Doomed!: For the sake of healing a wounded nation, we petition the Agong to do the kind and merciful act and pardon Anwar.

Anti Sarkis: Personally, seeking a royal pardon means admission to guilt to committing sodomy.

SSDhaliwal: Asking a pardon to circumvent his wrongful conviction is not an admission of guilt, it is merely to right a wrong.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Yes, tactically is it a flawed move. It gives political ammunition to Umno but one has got to look at it from a different angle.

For the past 17 years, Anwar has been vilified by the federal government and the entire apparatus of state.

From 1982-1997, they did not bother because he was with them, thinking that change can come from within. But eventually they realised that they could not afford to keep ambitious individuals like Anwar within their ranks as their power would be threatened.

He has been incarcerated twice before. Seeking a pardon was not on the cards before. But this time it may have been the work of his family who may be worried about his health and whether he can withstand further imprisonment.

It is the schemers and wielders of power who need to seek his forgiveness instead of him seeking a pardon.

If you were Anwar, what would you do?

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. Over the past one year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.