Pardon Board: Voter should have filed election petition against Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The Pardons Board has raised a preliminary objection to a lawsuit filed by a Port Dickson voter who is challenging the eligibility of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pix) to contest in the Port Dickson by-election.
The Board represented by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), said the voter Noraziah Mohd Shariff, should have filed an election petition challenging Anwar's eligibility to contest, instead of a lawsuit.
"The Board has raised an objection, as the normal courts do not have the powers to hear matters concerning an election. Any dispute on election matters should be heard by the Election Courts," senior federal counsel Suzana Atan told reporters following a meeting in the chambers of High Court judge Datuk Azizah Nawawi.
The court has set Nov 8, to hear the matter, however, the by-election takes place this Saturday on Oct 13.
Anwar sought to nullify Noraziah's lawsuit on Monday, on the basis that she has no legal standing to file the case, and that the issue of a royal pardon is non-justiciable.
Noraziah filed the lawsuit on Sept 28, one day before nomination day for the Port Dickson by-election, seeking a declaration that Anwar is not eligible to be elected Port Dickson MP as his royal pardon did not remove his disqualification to contest in the by-election.
She also wants a declaration that the Federal Territories Pardons Board, formed to advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, did not follow the Federal Constitution.
Noraziah is also seeking a declaration that the pardon granted to Anwar was null and void as the board was not formed in accordance with Article 42 (5) of the constitution.
The suit was filed through her solicitors, Messrs Raja Reza & Associates, along with a certificate of urgency.