This is some pretty big news!
According to the Malay Mail Online, it was just revealed that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been set to be released from prison two days earlier than scheduled.
Source: The Malaysian Times
The opposition leader, who was found guilty of sodomy and sentenced to 5 years in prison starting 10th February 2015, is now set to be released on 8th June this year. In a statement by the Prisons Department’s director-general Datuk Seri Zulkifli Omar addressing the issue, he said,
“The Act (Prison Act 1995) and the Regulations (Prisons Regulations 2000) give a one-third remittance from the sentence to any prisoner who undergoes a sentence exceeding one month. The calculation performed found that Anwar’s release date is June 10, 2018.”
Source: Din Merican
However, if the prisoner’s release date falls on a weekend or public holiday, they should be released one day prior. So, since the 9th and 10th of June fall on a Saturday and Sunday, he will be released on the 8th, which falls on a Friday.
“Until the release of this statement, the Malaysian Prisons Department and Sungai Buloh Prison has not received any warrant or order from any competent authority which ordered Anwar’s sentence to be amended,” Zulkifli continued.
“His release date, which is on June 8, 2018, also has nothing to do with the implementation of the parole system or any order from the Pardons Board.”
Source: Al-Jazeera
News of Anwar Ibrahim’s release surfaced on the same day as when Pakatan HARAPAN confirmed the nomination of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad as the prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming 14th General Elections (GE14). Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will run alongside Tun Mahathir Mohammad as a candidate for deputy prime minister.
What do you think of this latest development in the run-up to GE14? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: Pakatan Proposes Dr Mahathir as PM Candidate if Opposition Wins GE14
