The newly-elected Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has said the country’s monarch is willing to grant a full pardon to the jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim – beginning the process by which he could shortly succeed him.
The announcement came a day after the 92-year-old was sworn in after a shock win that toppled a long-ruling coalition mired in a $3.2bn corruption scandal.
“The (king) has indicated he is willing to pardon Anwar immediately,” Mahathir told a news conference in Petaling Jaya.
“We will begin the … proper process of obtaining a pardon. This means a full pardon. He should be released immediately when he is pardoned.”
Anwar and Mahathir, former allies and then implacable foes, joined forces to contest this week’s election and oust the administration of Najib Razak. Anwar is in custody on charges of sodomy and corruption and cannot take any office until he is pardoned and released.
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