Review sodomy cases, PAS Youth tells 'honourable prisoner' Anwar

Anwar Ibrahim is entitled to claim a significant amount in compensation for being imprisoned over fraudulent charges, said PAS Youth deputy chief Mohd Hafez Sabri.

Therefore, he urged the prime minister to seek a review of the cases.

“The dispute over whether the punishment that led to PMX becoming an ‘honourable prisoner’ is beholden to the facts of the case,” he was quoted as saying by Harakahdaily.

Hafez said it is imperative that the judiciary is safeguarded from allegations of wrongdoing, especially from a prime minister.

Furthermore, he stated that the judiciary must be free of manipulation and interference by politicians and those in positions of power.

“It is hoped that Malaysia does not give birth to more ‘honourable prisoners’,” said the Manjoi assemblyperson, who on a sarcastic note, also “congratulated” Anwar for admitting that he was an ex-prisoner.

‘Cruel, vile accusations’

Last Saturday, the prime minister chided the attitude of the opposition who often used his status as an ex-convict as capital to criticise his administration.

“Yes, I am indeed an ex-prisoner, but an honourable prisoner who faced cruel and vile accusations,” he stressed.

He added that the current generation of the opposition seems to have no capital by only hurling slander and insults, whereas when he was a victim of tyranny while in power as deputy prime minister, there were big names in the opposition like PAS fighters and religious people who defended his fate.

He named former PAS presidents Fadzil Mohd Noor and Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, as well as former grand imam of the National Mosque Ustaz Taib Azamudden Mohd Taib, as those who stood up for him.

Anwar landed in prison twice over sodomy charges, which he maintains were fabricated by his political rivals.

The first was in 1999 during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s first tenure as prime minister. He was released in 2004 when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi succeeded Mahathir.

In 2015, Anwar was convicted again during Najib Abdul Razak’s administration.

While serving his five-year prison term, he was granted a pardon after Mahathir, ironically, became prime minister again with the assistance of Pakatan Harapan, a political coalition led by Anwar.

COMMENT | Anwar executes Mahathir's regulation bucket list

Anwar vows to continue Karpal's legacy, vision in defending people's rights

Papagomo accuses Anwar of meddling with judicial process

Prisons Dept rebuts alleged ex-inmate's claims about Anwar's life in jail