'Read, understand, accept' - PM on Agong's decree

Summary

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim calls for all parties to respect and accept Agong's decree where he orders prisoners seeking clemency to submit their application to the Pardons Board for consideration.

• The call comes days before a rally planned by Umno and PAS to show solidarity with former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is appealing to the court to hear about an alleged royal addendum for his jail sentence to be turned into house arrest.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged all parties to "read, understand and accept" the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's decree today where Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar ordered all parties who wish to get any prisoner pardoned to go through the Pardons Board that he chairs.

"Must read, understand and accept His Majesty's decree," he told reporters in a brief doorstop interview during a walkabout at an eatery in Wangsa Maju this afternoon.

Asked if he believes the order issued by Istana Negara earlier today as related to the planned rally by Umno and PAS to support former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's court case this Monday, Anwar replied: "Yes, must read, must read."

Earlier today, Istana Negara stated that anyone who wishes to seek clemency for a prisoner must submit their application to the Pardons Board.

“If any quarters wish for a prisoner to be granted a full pardon or a reduction in their sentence, the application must be made by the convicted person to the Pardons Board chaired by the Agong in the next meeting for consideration.

“And we remind all quarters to respect the Federal Constitution and all related laws,” Istana Negara said in a statement posted on Facebook.

The decree came three days before the Court of Appeal is set to decide on Najib's case, where he is appealing against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to reject his application to hear about an alleged royal addendum by the previous king, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

The alleged addendum purportedly contains Sultan Abdullah's order for Najib to be held under house arrest for the remainder of his jail sentence.

In a show of support for Najib, Umno and the opposition party PAS have planned to mobilise their members and supporters for a solidarity rally at the appellate court on Monday.

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