Reasonable for Zahid to try and save himself from ongoing charges - Umno MP

 

An Umno Supreme Council member said that it would be reasonable for party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to try and save himself from the list of charges currently being heard in court.

Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman reportedly said any such attempts are unsurprising and others in the same position would also try to save themselves from possible jail time.

"Who will not want to try and save themselves? Not surprising. If Zahid wants to save himself, that is a must, and that is his responsibility.

"Protecting himself, his family. Why the need to dispute it?" Tajuddin said in an interview with Malay-daily Utusan Malaysia Sunday edition.

"Whether he is using the party, or this and that, that is a different issue [...] but his attempt in whatever way, that is reasonable.

"It can't be that when you're sick until you're dying, you refuse to seek treatment?

"You must try to find the cure," he said when asked for comments on criticisms against Zahid over his cases heard in court.

Zahid, a former deputy prime minister, is currently facing 47 charges comprising 12 criminal breach of trust, eighth corruption and 27 counts of money laundering involving Yayasan Akal Budi's funds.

Not long after Perikatan Nasional came into power earlier in March this year, Zahid reportedly denied that his charges would be dropped in exchange for Umno's support to Bersatu.

Instead, the Bagan Datuk MP insisted that he would fight the charges and clear his name in court.

Even as the trial continues, similar speculations on alleged negotiations to drop the charges have emerged following PKR president Anwar Ibrahim's latest bid to take down the Perikatan Nasional government.

Zahid, together with former premier Najib Abdul Razak, was accused of jointly pledging support of Umno MPs for Anwar, including through a purported letter sent to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

The letter supposedly requested by the King from various party leaders to determine support for Anwar has been dismissed as fake.   - Mkini