Anwar must apologise for half-truths and lack of transparency in royal addendum saga

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has finally confirmed the existence of the royal addendum on Najib Razak’s house arrest.

This document was purportedly sent by the former attorney general to the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong and later forwarded to Istana Negara for consideration by the current Agong.

Anwar claims that the royal addendum bypassed him entirely, leaving its resolution to the discretion of the Pardons Board and the Agong.

Why has Anwar chosen to disclose this now, after months of speculation?

Is this a reaction to mounting political pressure that has rendered further deflection untenable?

Anwar’s reluctance to address this earlier underscores a broader pattern in his leadership: sidestepping contentious issues and tailoring narratives to different audiences.

This avoidance is particularly glaring given Anwar’s own history. His political resurgence in 2018 was facilitated by a royal pardon that, while not exonerating him, enabled his release.

By failing to provide clarity on the royal addendum earlier, he appears to have forfeited an opportunity to act with the same transparency and accountability that is expected of him.

The royal addendum coincided with Najib’s partial pardon, which halved his sentence and fines but did not overturn his conviction.

Anwar’s admission lends credence to arguments in Najib’s court case, as the existence of the addendum could strengthen the case for house arrest.

Critics argue that Anwar should have either pursued a full pardon for Najib or decisively distanced himself from the controversy.

His hesitation has been interpreted as political opportunism, shaped by his alliance with DAP which firmly opposes clemency for Najib.

Adding to the controversy, Anwar’s ministers have fumbled their responses to questions about the royal addendum, turning the issue into a source of public ridicule.

This mishandling casts doubt on the ruling coalition’s ability to navigate more significant challenges facing the nation.

The Pakatan Harapan-led coalition, once hailed as a beacon of reform, appears hamstrung by half-truths and a lack of accountability.

Anwar’s failure to address the royal addendum earlier has eroded public confidence in his government.

Had he acted decisively, whether by clarifying the matter or pushing for a full pardon, he might have emerged as a leader willing to confront uncomfortable truths.

Anwar’s admission strengthens the argument that the royal addendum carries legal weight and could influence the High Court’s decision on Najib’s house arrest.

Moreover, the prosecution’s decision not to oppose Najib’s appeal suggests implicit acknowledgment of the addendum’s significance.

Anwar must apologise to Malaysians for his lack of transparency on the royal addendum.

This episode reflects poorly on his leadership and raises concerns about the coalition’s ability to manage other pressing political, social, and economic issues.

A commitment to honesty, accountability, and responsibility is essential if the government hopes to rebuild public trust.

P Ramasamy is the former deputy chief minister of Penang and chairman of Urimai.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.