Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said Anwar Ibrahim will remain as Permatang Pauh MP until Feb 24, two weeks after the Federal Court verdict which convicted him on sodomy charges.

"The loss of eligibility of the Permatang Pauh MP takes effect when the period of 14 days ends from the date he was convicted and sentenced," he said in a statement today.

Pandikar ( right ) said this is in accordance with Article 48 of the Federal Constitution.

 “As such, I, as the Dewan Rakyat speaker, can only announce the vacancy of the Permatang Pauh seat the moment the Yang Berhormat loses his eligibility as a member of Parliament, in accordance with Clause 4 Article 48 of the Federal Constitution,” he added.

Article 48, Clause 4(a) of the Federal Constitution states that an MP is disqualified 14 days from the day he/she is convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine of not less than RM2000 and has not received a pardon.

He also added the seat would not be considered vacant if Anwar chose to file a petition to seek a royal pardon within the 14 day period. If this is done, then the question of eligibility would be on hold until the decision on the petition is known.

“This in accordance to Article 48,Clause 4 (c) of the Federal Constitution,” the speaker explained.

This comes after DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng emphasised yesterday that Anwar still remains as Permatang Pauh MP until he is asked officially to vacate his seat.

The Penang chief minister said he had discussed with the PKR de facto leader on the seeking of a royal pardon but declined to divulge details.

Anwar was incarcerated for five years on Tuesday after being found guilty of sodomising his aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008.