PKR president Anwar Ibrahim expressed gratitude to Sultan Muhammad V for the royal pardon he received after being jailed for sodomy.

“In my personal capacity and on my family’s behalf, we would like to extend our gratitude to His Royal Highness for his role in speeding up the pardon process under Section 42(1) of the federal constitution following the 14th general election,” Anwar said in a statement today.

Anwar, who had been in jail since 2015 over a second sodomy charge, was granted a royal pardon soon after Pakatan Harapan took federal power in the 14th general election last year.

Anwar in his statement added that Sultan Muhammad had also “allowed a wide berth for democracy to grow in Malaysia by ensuring that the country’s first transition of power was carried out safely, orderly, and peacefully”.

The Port Dickson MP said PKR members and Malaysians at large were “shocked and saddened” by his sudden resignation.

Anwar, 71, was released from prison on May 16 after receiving a royal pardon.

Muhammad V, who is from the Kelantan royal family, is the first king in Malaysia to abdicate. The royal statement which announced the decision on Sunday did not state the reason.

The Conference of Rulers is expected to elect from among itself the next king on January 24.

According to a rotation list, the next sultans in line to be the country’s monarch are the rulers of Pahang and Johor. – January 9, 2018.