PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has objected to an application filed by Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for the High Court to decide on several questions of law pertaining to the royal pardon granted to Anwar five years ago.

Anwar said Sanusi’s bid against the royal pardon, which was granted to the latter by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on May 16, 2018, is beyond the court’s jurisdiction.

The PKR president said based on article 42 of the Federal Constitution read with article 181, the Agong has the power to grant pardons, and that power is permanent and remains unaffected.

“There are various cases before the Federal Court and the Court of Appeal supporting the legal principle that the court cannot confirm or change a decision of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“This includes the decision to grant me the royal pardon, which directly proves the court has no jurisdiction to (change it),” he said in an affidavit filed through S.N. Nair at the Alor Setar High Court on April 25.

Anwar said Sanusi’s application is irrelevant, frivolous, insulting to the powers of the Agong, and an abuse of the judicial process to force decisions not within courts’ powers.

“In accordance with the pardon granted by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on May 16, 2018, I am fully pardoned, and all convictions brought against me, including the court records, are set aside. Any statement relating to the matter is deemed defamatory and actionable,” Anwar said in the affidavit. 

On March 31, Sanusi filed an application at the Alor Setar High Court, seeking a determination on whether the royal pardon granted to Anwar five years ago was to set aside his conviction in addition to his sentencing.

Sanusi filed the bid based on documents he cited, which he said contained no evidence the pardon reversed Anwar’s conviction in whole or in part, or expunged the prime minister’s previous criminal convictions.

Lawyer Yusfarizal Yusoff, representing Sanusi, when contacted by Bernama, said case management was fixed for June 28 at the Alor Setar High Court.

On December 13 last year, Anwar as the plaintiff filed a defamation suit against Sanusi over the latter’s statements linking him to immoral behaviour in the “Jelajah PN Best Tambun” campaign.

Anwar said the defamatory statements implied the prime minister had obtained the royal pardon through fraudulent methods, remains unforgiven, and had deceived the Agong, while also implying he is untrustworthy, unethical and a traitor of the people’s mandate.

Anwar said the statements were made with malicious intent to incite public anger and stir hatred against him and Pakatan Harapan in the run-up to the general election last year. – Bernama, June 9, 2023.