PKR: Home Ministry has the power to allow Anwar to attend Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) leaders today insisted that the Home Ministry has the power to decide if jailed Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim can attend the next Parliament sitting in March.
PKR vice-president N Surendran said that as the Prisons Department comes under the purview of the Home Ministry, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should not be asking the Attorney-General to assume his responsibility
"The Prisons Department is under the Home Ministry and not the AG. It's wrong to ask the AG in this matter. Only the federal government has the authority to allow Anwar to attend the parliamentary sitting in March. Ahmad Zahid should stop beating around the bush," Surendran told the media at PKR's headquarters today.
" Ahmad Zahid must agree to this and direct the Prisons Department accordingly," said Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar during the joint press conference by PKR leaders.
Surendran also said that under Article 48 of the Federal Constitution, Anwar is still the MP for Permatang Pauh, and this has been already confirmed by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia
"Anwar's position as the Opposition Leader is legally and constitutionally recognised. It is an essential role of our parliamentary democracy. There must be no obstacles placed against carrying out those duties," he added.
Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid said that it was the AG who must decide if Anwar should be allowed to attend the parliamentary session from March 9 to April 9 after a formal request was put in to allow Anwar to attend the sitting.