Mahathir Helped Free Anwar

He walked out of Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital at 11.30am Wednesday (May 16) a free man and is now en route to Istana Negara to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Anwar was initially scheduled to be released on June 8, 2018, after his five-year sentence that started on Feb 10, 2015 was reduced for good behaviour.

Anwar was supposed to speak to the press outside the centre upon his release, but the sheer hubbub from supporters and media prevented this.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is already at Istana Negara.

Guards at Sungai Buloh prison said that all of Anwar's personal belongings have been sent to the rehabilitation centre.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil earlier said that Anwar is scheduled to hold a press conference at his home in Segambut at around 4pm.

"Anwar will then perform terawih prayers at his home before attending the rally at Padang Timur tonight (May 16)," he told reporters.

The PKR de facto leader has been granted a full Royal Pardon by the Agong, said Anwar's lawyer R. Sivarasa.

"The Pardons Board had presented recommendations to the Agong, who agreed to give Anwar a full pardon.

"He is not only physically free but free to participate in the nation's politics, as past convictions have been expunged," said Sivarasa.

He said Anwar is likely to spend a few days resting and visiting friends here and abroad.

"Maybe in about six weeks time, after Hari Raya, we will begin the process of getting him (Anwar) back into Parliament," he added.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has arrived at the Istana Negara to meet the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V.

Anwar made his way here after being released from the Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital at 11.30am Wednesday (May 16).

He arrived at the palace at around noon, and among the first people to greet him there was Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, reported Bernama.

Anwar went in through Gate 1, but media personnel were not allowed to wait there and gathered instead at Gate 2.

The board was to deliberate on the release of the PKR de facto leader and prime minister-designate.

Last Friday (May 11), Dr Mahathir said Sultan Muhammad V had expressed his willingness to grant a full and immediate pardon to Anwar.

The Royal Pardons Board meeting was supposed to be held on Tuesday (May 15) but this was postponed to Wednesday.

Anwar Ibrahim walked from his prison hospital a free man at 11.30am (1.30pm AEST) today into a Malaysia transformed by the stunning electoral victory he helped orchestrate alongside his once-sworn political foe, Mahathir Mohamad.

The 70-year-old democracy champion looked jubilant as he emerged from Kuala Lumpur’s Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital smiling, waving and giving a thumbs-up to crowds of media and well wishers.

Mr Anwar was to have addressed waiting media but was quickly bundled into a black SUV alongside his wife, deputy Prime minister-designate Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, amid increasingly chaotic scenes and a frantic media scrum.

He will instead hold a press conference later today and then address a public rally in a Kuala Lumpur park around 11pm local time.

Police and security struggled to hold back screaming crowds as Mr Anwar, dressed sharply in a slate-blue suit and burgundy tie, was driven out of the hospital where he has been recuperating from shoulder surgery in recent months.

His first appointment as a free man was with King Muhammad V who granted his formal pardon this morning, three years after the one-time deputy prime minister under Mahathir Mohamad between 1993 and 1998 was jailed on a second politically-motivated sodomy charge.

He also attended a working lunch with new Prime Minsiter Mahathir Mohamad and the leaders of their victorious Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition.

The first conviction and jail sentence was under Dr Mahathir in 1998 after the two men fell out over how to handle the Asian Financial Crisis.

“The appeal for a full pardon for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim was presented and considered by the 51st Pardons Board meeting,” a statement issued by the Palace shortly after his released said yesterday.

“In line with article 42 of the federal constitution the king, on the advice of the Pardons Board, concerns to grant a full pardon and immediate freedom to Anwar Ibrahim effective from the date of the Pardons Board meeting.”

Mr Anwar has led Malaysia’s reformasi movement for the past two decades — some eight of those from prison.

His expected re-entry into Malaysian public life comes as the country is undergoing a major political transformation following last Wednesday’s shock electoral defeat of a government that has ruled the country for 61 years.

Mr Anwar’s People’s Justice Party is now part of Malaysia’s new ruling coalition government, led by the 92-year-old Dr Mahathir, the country’s fourth and longest serving prime minister who was sworn in as its seventh last Thursday.

The two men set aside 20 years of enmity earlier this year to join forces in an extraordinary political union to unseat now-ousted prime minister Najib Razak who Dr Mahathir said yesterday could soon face charges in connection with the 1MDB global financial scandal.

Underpinning that reunion was a pact: Dr Mahathir, who turns 93 in July, would seek a royal pardon in the event of their victory and eventually hand over the Prime Ministership to Mr Anwar.

While many Anwar loyalists will be eager to see that transition happen soon, Dr Mahathir said yesterday it could be one to two years before it takes place.

Mr Anwar too has said he is in no rush to take over the reins and is happy to allow Dr Mahathir to first set the country’s economy back on course and resolve a number of high profile corruption scandals, including 1MDB