Malaysia’s king agrees to pardon jailed Anwar Ibrahim after opposition’s stunning victory
Kuala Lumpur — Malaysia’s king has agreed to pardon jailed opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim, the newly installed prime minister said on Friday, in the latest dramatic development after the opposition toppled the long-ruling regime. Anwar’s expected release paves the way for him to be handed power by Mahathir Mohamad, 92, who was sworn in as the world’s oldest leader on Thursday following his alliance’s stunning election victory. Mahathir, who has said he plans to give the premiership to Anwar — his former nemesis — came out of retirement in reaction to a huge corruption scandal that ensnared ex-prime minister Najib Razak. The former strongman teamed up with parties that had fought him vehemently during his two decades in power in a bid to oust the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, which had led Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957. Anwar, from the People’s Justice Party, was a key leader of the opposition alliance. One of Malaysia’s most charismatic politicians, he was hei...
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