Nurul Izzah: Anwar will only accept pardon, not parole

(MMO) – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will not seek parole when eligible as doing so would be admitting guilt to the charge of sodomy for which he was convicted, daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar said today.

Commenting on former Selangor mentri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo’s recent parole, the Lembah Pantai MP said her family will continue to press for Anwar to be pardoned of the conviction that they maintain was politically motivated.

“Our case is clear. He is innocent, there is request for a pardon on the miscarriage of justice, so I think you should be asking the question to the home minister and the Home Ministry,” she told reporters outside Dewan Rakyat today.

She also said Khir’s release six months into his one-year sentence was evidence of political interference that undermined the credibility of the Home Ministry and judiciary.

On the status of the royal pardon, Nurul Izzah said her family has submitted this again and is awaiting the outcome of the suit filed against Putrajaya over the same matter.

Khir’s application for parole was reportedly approved yesterday, and he will be released after serving half of the sentence he received for corruption.

Anwar was imprisoned for five years last February after the Federal Court upheld his sentence for a sodomy charge that he insists was part of a conspiracy to end his political career.