CONTROVERSIAL lawyer Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz has filed a writ of summons against the Pardons Board and Anwar Ibrahim in a legal challenge to the PKR president’s pardon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on May 16, 2018.

The lawyer wants a declaration that the pardon was not valid.

In his papers filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court today, which were sighted by The Malaysian Insight, Khairul questioned the validity of the Pardons Board, saying it was not properly formed when it advised the king to pardon Anwar.

“The first defendant (the Pardons Board) was formed only two days after the new federal government was established on May 11, 2018, thus it would have been impossible for the board to convene and give valid advice to the king.”

The lawyer also referred to an announcement on the same day by the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said the king would give a “full pardon” to Anwar.

“This is in violation of the constitution because Article 42(4) and (5) of the federal constitution states that only the Pardons Board can advise the king on who to pardon,” he said.

The lawyer said his rights were personally affected because he is a Malaysian citizen and he questions Anwar eligibility to be the eighth prime minister.

Anwar was pardoned of his conviction in his second sodomy case, involving former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan. This took place as soon as Pakatan Harapan took over the federal government after the May 9, 2018 general election.

Khairul is also Parti Bumiputera Pesaka Malaysia (Putra) vice-president. Putra is led by former Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali, who also heads Malay rights group Perkasa.

Khairul gained notoriety last year after he filed a suit to challenge the legitimacy of vernacular schools.

That case was thrown out by the Federal Court, which said that it is within Parliament’s power to form such schools. – February 26, 2020.