Anwar disqualified as MP after royal pardon rejected; seat is now vacant, says Speaker

Anwar Ibrahim at the Syariah court of appeal in Kuala Lumpur on March 24, 2015. Anwar has been disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP, and a notice of vacancy of the Parliament seat has been issued to the Election Commission (EC), after a petition fo
Anwar Ibrahim at the Syariah court of appeal in Kuala Lumpur on March 24, 2015. Anwar has been disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP, and a notice of vacancy of the Parliament seat has been issued to the Election Commission (EC), after a petition for a royal pardon was rejected. -- PHOTO: SIN CHEW DAILY

KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Anwar Ibrahim has been disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP, and a notice of vacancy of the Parliament seat has been issued to the Election Commission (EC).

In confirming this via a statement, Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said on Wednesday that he received a letter from the Pardons Board informing that the "jail sentence for the applicant (Anwar) should continue".

"A notice has been delivered to the EC in line with Article 54 of the Federal Constitution on the vacancy of the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat as soon as the disqualification of its MP takes effect," he said.

Anwar's disqualification takes effect from March 16, the date his petition was deliberated upon and rejected.

Senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh announced on Wednesday that the King, who chairs the Pardons Board, rejected the petition filed by Anwar's family on Feb 24.

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