SHAH ALAM, Sept. 20 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's right to seek a pardon, while cautioning that its impact on public confidence and international perceptions must also be weighed.

Anwar also rejected suggestions that he had paved the way for Najib's conditional pardon, saying every prisoner had the right to submit an appeal for consideration.

"When people say that I was the one who paved the way [for that pardon], that is not true.

"What I said is that every prisoner has the right to submit an appeal, and I stand by defending that right for anyone, including Datuk Seri Najib.

"He has the right to submit his appeal for consideration by the Pardons Board, which is ...