Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim walks free from jail after royal pardon

Malaysian politician Anwar Ibrahim has been freed from jail, paving the way for his return to politics.

Once seen as a potential future leader, he had been jailed on charges of sodomy and corruption after falling out with the government.

Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad sought a pardon for Anwar, which was granted on Wednesday morning.

Mahathir has promised to step aside for Anwar to become prime minister within two years, says a BBC report.

The politician was jailed for a second time three years ago on what he said were trumped-up sodomy charges.

For years he had been heading Malaysia’s opposition movement, which has just defeated the former ruling party for the first time in the country’s history.

Last week’s shock election victory followed a reconciliation between Anwar and 92-year old Mahathir, who sacked and jailed him 20 years ago during his first stint as prime minister.

Anwar walked free out of a hospital in the capital Kuala Lumpur where he has been undergoing treatment.

Supporters camped out at the hospital trailed him to the Istana Negara royal palace where he met Mahathir.

‘Long live Anwar,’ supporters on motorbikes yelled as they pull into the royal compound in support of their newly-freed leader.

“He is a symbol of freedom to Malaysians like me,” 59-year old Ahmad Samsuddin told the BBC.

“Finally. It feels like the tide of change is turning in Malaysia after so many years of injustice. Today is a historic day with Anwar’s release and will get even better.”