Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's status as the Member of Parliament for Permatang Pauh will only be determined after his pardon petition has been decided upon by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

Pandikar Amin said he could only submit a vacancy notice in line with Article 54 of the Federal Constitution for Permatang Pauh only after the MP lost his eligibility to continue to be the MP as per paragraph (c), Clause (4), Article 48 of the Federal Constitution.

"As the petition by Anwar's family for a royal pardon has been filed in accordance with the Federal Constitution, his status as MP can only be settled after His Majesty makes his decision (on the pardon application)," he said in a statement here tonight.

Pandikar Amin confirmed receiving a copy of the petition for the pardon today which was filed by Anwar's wife, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and his two daughters, Nurul Izzah Anwar and Nurul Nuha Anwar on behalf of Anwar to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The pardon petition is related to the conviction and five-year jail sentence against Anwar for sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

On Feb 10, the Federal Court upheld the conviction and sentence on Anwar, 67, after dismissing his final appeal against the sentence by the Court of Appeal after finding him guilty of sodomising Mohd Saiful, 30, at Unit 11-5-1 Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara between 3.10 pm and 4.30 pm on June 26, 2008.

Anwar, now being held at the Sungai Buloh Prison, was charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment and caning upon conviction.