Brickbats for Akmal after questioning Anwar's pardon

Summary

• PKR Youth chief accuses Umno’s Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh of being hasty in questioning Anwar Ibrahims’s pardon, pointing out that the premier’s pardon followed procedure.

• Adam Adli Abd Halim urges Akmal to retract his remarks which came after AGC said ex-PM Najib Abdul Razak’s house arrest bid needed to go through the Pardons Board.

• Akmal rebuts Adam saying was seeking clarification, not questioning the pardon.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh's move to question whether Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's royal pardon in 2018 had gone through the Pardons Board has backfired.

His PKR counterpart Adam Adli Abd Halim pointed out that it only takes a quick search online to learn that Anwar's pardon did indeed follow procedure.

"This was widely reported by the media then. Hence, what Akmal is questioning is not just rushed, but also twisting facts that are publicly known," Adam said in a statement today.

Anwar's political secretary Kamil Munim separately shared on social media an Istana Negara statement in 2018 which stated that the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong granted Anwar’s pardon on the advice of the Pardons Board.

"Read and do some homework first, friend. I know you want to be a hero for (former premier) Najib (Abdul Razak), but you don't need to spout nonsense about other matters," Kamil said.

Akmal (above) had questioned Anwar's pardon after the Attorney-General's Chambers issued a statement saying that Najib's bid for house arrest needed to go through the Pardons Board chaired by the sitting Agong.

This is believed to be aimed at addressing a purported addendum issued by the previous king allowing Najib to serve the remainder of his SRC International corruption case jail sentence from home.

‘Be wise, retract statement’

Adam said Akmal should withdraw his statement.

"It would be wise for Akmal to retract his statement. Don't question the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's power to pardon to the point of besmirching the institution.

"If he is not careful, that statement is not just a political attack, but can be considered an insult to the royal institution and the highest laws of the country," the deputy youth and sports minister added.

Later this evening, Akmal was reported as dismissing Adam's call for him to retract his remarks.

The Merlimau assemblyperson was cited by Free Malaysia Today as saying he was seeking clarity on Anwar's pardon, not questioning it.

Madani follows the law

Adam stressed that the Madani coalition follows the law and that Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor have legal avenues open to them without political interference.

Rosmah was convicted in a solar panel corruption scandal, which is pending appeal.

She recently succeeded in her bid to quash separate charges over money laundering and tax evasion.

Najib will have the house arrest addendum heard in court on Jan 6.

The former Pekan MP is also still on trial for the 1MDB corruption case, which is at the defence stage.

Umno, PAS to unite and rally in solidarity with Najib on Jan 6

Najib's house arrest bid: Umno leaders slam AGC's statement

AGC: Najib's house arrest bid must go through Pardons Board

Anwar says not involved in Rosmah's acquittal, Musa's appointment