It’s officially one week into the brand new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after a historic general election, and big changes are happening all around us!
Now, with perhaps one of the most exciting things to come from this election, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly just been released after receiving a royal pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Members of the press gathered outside the Cheras Rehabilitation centre this morning to capture the historic moment as Anwar walked out as a free man at 11.30am today (16th May). He is now en route to Istana Negara to meet with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Earlier at a press conference last week (11th May), Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad clarified to the media that the Agong has agreed to give a full pardon to Datuk Seri Anwar, thus allowing him to continue participating in politics upon his release from prison.
Malaysians were touched when a video of Anwar watching Prime Minister Tun Mahathir’s swearing-in ceremony (which took place on 10th May) from inside a hospital began to circulate online. Now, he has finally been released and can continue working with the government.
According to Tun Dr Mahathir, it will be decided what role Anwar will play in the new PH government once he’s been released, so we’ll have to wait and see what their plans are.
In the meantime, Anwar’s wife, Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail stated yesterday (15th May) that her husband would need time to recuperate before getting back to work. She was quoted by The Edge Markets as saying,
“Let him regain his health first and allow the transition process to go smoothly before he returns to participate (in political activities). Alhamdulillah his health is getting better and (we are) waiting for his release to celebrate the Ramadan with family members and perform the ‘tarawikh’ prayers.”
What a historic moment! We can’t wait to see what else our new government has in store for Malaysia!
Also read: Agong to Pardon Anwar Ibrahim Immediately!