Fahmi swats aside questions over Anwar's eligibility for PD polls

PORT DICKSON: PKR has debunked a claim by PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not eligible to contest in the Port Dickson by-election.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said Takiyuddin's claims were baseless and politically motivated.
"Takiyuddin said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had only granted the PKR president-elect a full pardon and not a free pardon.
"If we hear and watch the video where the Prisons Department director read the pardon letter, it was obvious that it was a full pardon which clears all of Anwar's records.
"Anwar has no criminal record. I'm not a legal expert but in the public's view it is understood that his record has been cleared," Fahmi said when met after the launch of free e-Tuition for Port Dickson's pupils.
"There won't be another by-election. I think those who raise the question may ask the same question to the Prisons Department the official text on the full pardon," he added.
Takiyuddin on Wednesday said Anwar was not eligible to contest in the Port Dickson by-election because the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had only granted him a full pardon and not a free pardon.
Takiyuddin said to be eligible, Anwar should be given "pengampunan bebas" or free pardon under a different provision of the Federal Constitution.
He added Anwar would only have been able to contest if he was given a free pardon under Article 48 (1)(e), which touches on when an individual is eligible to contest as a wakil rakyat.
Takiyuddin said he is hoping that the Kuala Lumpur High Court will quickly hear the motion filed by a registered voter here on Anwar's status.
He said there will be another by-election if the court rules that Anwar is ineligible and disqualified if he wins the seat.