Umno accuses Pakatan of double standards over royal pardons

KUALA LUMPUR — Umno has levelled accusations of double standards against Pakatan Harapan over the government's approach to royal pardons, pointing to the 2018 pardon granted to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as a key example of inconsistency.

The opposition party's criticism comes as discussions surrounding royal clemency continue to generate political debate in Malaysia. Umno contends that the ruling coalition has applied different standards depending on circumstances and political considerations.

Anwar received a royal pardon in May 2018, which allowed him to resume his political career after serving time on a sodomy conviction. The opposition argues this precedent raises questions about how the current administration views and applies principles of royal pardons in other cases.

The disagreement highlights ongoing tensions between the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition and opposition Umno, with both parties using recent political developments to challenge each other's credibility on matters of governance and consistency in applying state institutions.

Royal pardons in Malaysia remain a sensitive constitutional matter, and recent discussions have drawn attention to how different administrations have handled requests for clemency.