Anwar disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Imprisoned Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pix) has been disqualified as the Permatang Pauh MP, said Dewan Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.
In a press statement today, Pandikar Amin said this follows a letter he received from the Pardons Board that Anwar's request for a royal pardon had been rejected.
"Therefore, YB Permatang Pauh has lost his eligibility as an MP," he said.
Pandikar Amin added that a notice has been issued to the Election Commission (EC) on the vacancy.
EC chief Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusoff confirmed that the commission has received the letter from Parliament.
"We have many things to talk about," he told reporters when contacted, referring to the by-election for the Permatang Pauh seat.
In a statement later yesterday, the EC said it will meet on April 8 to decide on the nomination and polling dates for Permatang Pauh.
In Parliament, PKR whip Datuk Johari Abdul (PKR-Sungai Petani) said the announcement came as a surprise for the party.
"The speaker has made a decision. We will abide by the rules and regulations," he told reporters at parliament lobby.
PAS Information chief Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) said the party will discuss with DAP and PKR on the by-election, but assured that a PKR candidate will be fielded.
Earlier, the High Court dismissed Anwar's application for a judicial review to allow him to attend the current Dewan Rakyat session.
The application for leave for judicial review was dismissed by High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Datuk Asmabi Mohamad in chambers today.
The application was dismissed with RM3,000 costs.
"We have submitted that on March 16, 2015, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Pardons Board meeting had rejected the application for pardon by the applicant," Senior Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh told reporters.
He said Anwar's disqualification as an MP takes effect under Article 48 (4) (c ) of the Federal Constitution.
In BUKIT MERTAJAM, the Permatang Pauh Umno division said it has shortlisted three names to contest in the coming by-election.
Division chairman Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said said the names will be submitted to prime minister and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak for approval.