“You must read, understand and accept the command,” he told reporters here.
Earlier, Istana Negara reiterated that any proposal for a prisoner to be granted a pardon or sentence reduction must be submitted to the pardons board for consideration.
The palace said the king holds the prerogative to grant pardons under Articles 42(1) and (2) of the Federal Constitution, based on the advice of the pardons board he chairs, for offences committed within the federal territories.
It also said the king has “the authority to remit, suspend, or reduce any punishment imposed by the courts for such offences”.
The statement comes amid plans for a rally in support of former prime minister Najib Razak, who has a court appearance on Jan 6 over his challenge to be allowed to serve the remainder of his jail sentence under house arrest.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers released a similar statement on Wednesday, saying that any proposal for prisoners in the federal territories to serve the remainder of their sentences under house arrest, including Najib, has to be submitted to the pardons board.
Asked if the statement issued by Istana Negara today is linked to the planned rally by several political parties on Monday, Malaysiakini quoted Anwar as saying: “Yes, must read, must read”.
PAS has issued an internal party memo calling for party members to gather for prayers and speeches at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya at 9am, while Umno will also be at the rally, with over 200 busloads of Najib’s supporters.
Yesterday, MIC deputy president M Saravanan said “thousands” of party members will attend the rally, while People’s Progressive Party secretary-general Inder Singh Beant Singh said party members would also attend the rally.
Najib is currently serving a six-year prison sentence, halved by the pardons board from the initial 12 years, following his conviction in the SRC International case.
The rally is being held on the day the Court of Appeal will hear his application for leave to adduce fresh evidence in his appeal to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest, an order which he claims was issued in a supplementary decree to the Feb 2 announcement.