THE Prime Minister has warned that election victories cannot be used to challenge or remove Malay Rulers and that the position of the monarchy is governed by the Constitution and law.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also rejected claims that he paved the way for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s conditional pardon.
Anwar said no political party had sought an electoral mandate to depose a Ruler and any dispute over the royal institution must instead be pursued through established legal channels, rather than through political parties or the media.
“A State Executive Council meets to depose a Ruler – by whose right?… During the election, did you state in your manifesto that if you won, you would depose the Ruler? There was no such thing.
“The people supported you to defend the royal system, yet having won, you reject the Ruler,” he said.
Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairman, said the constitutional monarchy must be upheld according to state constitutions and the law, rather than determined by political parties or electoral outcomes.
“If there is a dispute, follow the legal process, not the media, not through parties.
“It is not the party that determines who the Ruler is, but heritage, legacy, culture and the Constitution within the law,” he said.
Anwar was speaking at the Perintis Reformis Reunion Hi-Tea event at the Selangor International Trade Centre (SITC) in Shah Alam on Sunday.
He said the Federal Government would continue to defend the system of Malay rulers and ensure matters concerning the royal institution were not decided arbitrarily for political interests.
“The royal system has its own rules and methods that make it a royal system; the way we speak, agree or object has its own methods. Therefore, we defend it,” he said.
He added that the Government would deploy the full weight of its machinery to defend the constitutional position of the Malay Rulers.
On Najib’s conditional pardon, Anwar rejected claims that he had paved the way for the former prime minister to obtain the decision, stressing that every prisoner had the right to submit a pardon application for consideration by the Pardons Board.
“I stated that every prisoner has the right to submit an appeal, and I defend that right for anyone, including Datuk Seri Najib. He has the right to submit his appeal for consideration by the Pardons Board chaired by the King.
“There are discordant voices from our former allies claiming this is Pakatan Harapan’s doing. As Prime Minister, I do not want to use harsh words; people can criticise me, but it is untrue… those in government know my stance from the beginning… even if you want to win votes, it should not be by lying. Claiming that I paved the way is incorrect,” he said.
Anwar said the Pardons Board had jurisdiction to consider pardon applications, taking into account the advice of the Prime Minister and Attorney-General at the Federal level, while the final decision rested with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
He also stressed that matters concerning pardons and the conferment of awards fell within the constitutional discretion of the Sultan and Rulers in their respective states, or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at the Federal level.
Anwar said his previous comments regarding Najib’s pardon were not intended to influence the decision, but took into account the ongoing court cases, the substantial fine imposed on Najib and the implications for public confidence in the justice system and Malaysia’s international standing.
He added that a pardon would not halt other legal proceedings involving Najib, including cases linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and civil suits.
Anwar reaffirmed the MADANI Government’s position that corruption and abuse of power must continue to be investigated and dealt with through the legal system.
His remarks came after His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted Najib a conditional pardon on Friday, allowing him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest until Aug 23, 2028, subject to payment of an RM50 million fine and other conditions.
The Prime Minister’s Department’s Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) said the decision was made at the 64th meeting of the Pardons Board for the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya at Istana Negara. - September 21, 2026
