No royal pardon, by-election in Permatang Pauh

UPDATE: Anwar Ibrahim has been disqualified as Permatang Pauh MP and a notice of vacancy of the parliament seat has been issued to the Election Commission. In confirming this via a statement, Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said on Wednesday that he received a letter from the Pardons Board informing that the 'jail sentence for the applicant (Anwar) should continue'.

“A notice has been delivered to the EC in line with Article 54 of the Federal Constitution on the vacancy of the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat as soon as the disqualification of its MP takes effect,” he said.

EARLIER POSTING:
So, its final, I guess.

No royal pardon for Anwar Ibrahim. Looks like he has to complete his 5-year jail sentence (pity him).

And effort by Pakatan Rakyat to find other avenues in securing his release, I believe will also end in despair.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 1 (Bernama) -- The Pardons Board has rejected the petition for a royal pardon sought by Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomy, senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh said today.
He said the Yang di-Pertuan Agong rejected Anwar's petition at a meeting of the board on March 16.
As such, Anwar is disqualified as a member of parliament based on Article 48(4)(c) of the Federal Constitution, he told reporters at the High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division). Anwar is the MP for Permatang Pauh.
Amarjeet Singh said that by virtue of the Pardons Board decision, the court dismissed an application by Anwar for leave for a judicial review of the decision of the commissioner-general of prisons prohibiting him from attending Dewan Rakyat sittings.
Judge Datuk Asmabi Mohamad made the decision in chambers in the presence of Amarjeet Singh and Anwar's lawyer, Latheefa Koya.

Next is to 'reconfirm' his position as Permatang Pauh MP.

Going by logic, such a status is 'automatically' dropped when one is found guilty and sent to prison, or fined up to RM5,000.

However, let them try...or cry!