Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim walks free after royal pardon

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Jailed Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim walked free on Wednesday after receiving a royal pardon, paving the way for his return to national politics, just a week after his opposition coalition scored a shock win in general elections.

Smiling and waving to supporters, Anwar, dressed in a black suit and tie and his hair neatly swept back, left the hospital in Kuala Lumpur where he had been recovering from a shoulder injury, surrounded by his family, lawyers and prison guards, before driving to the palace for an audience with King Sultan Muhammad V.

He was greeted at the palace by new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, his ally-turned-foe-turned-ally, with whom he joined forces to oust scandal-tainted Najib Razak's administration in last week's election.

Jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (L) shakes hands with a prison officer and poses for a photo following his release, May 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

"The king, with the advice of the pardons board of the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, has allowed a full pardon and given an immediate release for... Anwar bin Ibrahim," said a statement issued by the palace.

Anwar, 70, had been serving a five-year sentence on sodomy charges that his supporters said were politically motivated.

The pardon allows Anwar to re-enter active politics immediately. The 92-year-old Mahathir, who led the opposition to a surprise election victory in Anwar's absence, had vowed to enable his release and eventually step aside for him to become the prime minister.

On Tuesday again, Mahathir said he expected to be prime minister for one or two more years, setting off talk of differences between the two.

Upon his release, however, Anwar said he would not immediately be part of the new government.

"I've told… Mahathir, I don't need to serve in the cabinet for now," he said, adding he would give his full support to the new government.

Journalists and supporters of jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim arrive at his home after his release from the Cheras Hospital Rehabilitation in Kuala Lumpur, May 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

Speaking to reporters at his home, Anwar said he had promised "to give complete support to manage the country on the understanding that we are committed to the reform agenda, beginning with the judiciary, media and the entire apparatus."

"Now there is a new dawn for Malaysia," said Anwar, adding he would take some time off with his family.

Anwar's release caps a remarkable reversal of fortune made possible by the unexpected electoral drubbing of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition that held power for the last six decades.

The former autocrat Mahathir – who headed BN for 22 years until 2003 – came out of retirement to lead a disparate opposition to an unexpected election victory last week amid rising anger over a massive government corruption scandal.

Anwar's freedom is expected to ease fears of a growing rift within the newly formed coalition government, after differences erupted between supporters of Mahathir and Anwar over cabinet positions and Anwar's role in the party.

Mahathir is the leader of the ruling alliance and Anwar's People's Justice Party (PKR) won the majority of parliamentary seats in the group.

The volatile relationship between Mahathir and Anwar has dominated Malaysia's political landscape for over three decades and is central to the future of the alliance.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters