'Why the rush to appeal against Muhyiddin’s acquittal?'

 

Bersatu legal and constitution bureau today urged the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to withdraw its appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to acquit Muhyiddin Yassin from three counts of power abuse charges.

In a statement, bureau deputy chairperson Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif said the court ruling during the early stage of the case showed that "it was the flimsiest of flimsy" charges.

She also criticised Attorney-General Idrus Harun's decision to appeal against the court decision on the very same day, alleging the AG was practising double standards.

"Why the need to rush into filing the appeal without first considering the reasons given by the court, which had clearly stated that an association - namely a political party - does not fall into the category or meaning of organisation or associate under MACC Act?

"In short, the case against Muhyiddin is a non-starter, a conjured case without any juridical basis, brought about by political malice.

"The speed and haste with which the AG rushed in the appeal yesterday are in stark contrast to how the AGC has dealt with the corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is facing 47 charges of misappropriation," Sasha Lyna (above) said in a statement.

Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin

Sasha Lyna, who is also a lawyer, claimed that the AGC did not display such haste in Zahid's criminal case which she described as having progressed "at a snail's pace".

She also questioned Idrus's statement for pointing out that three other criminal charges still stand against Muhyiddin, who is Bersatu president.

"What was the necessity to go out of the way to point this out? It is not the duty of a professional AGC to score political points against political opponents of the government.

"In any event, the three other charges against Muhyiddin are baseless without the predicate charges which were struck out.

"The AG should do the right thing, which is to drop the appeal and the three other charges against Muhyiddin," Sasha Lyna said.

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed the former prime minister’s striking-out application against three power abuse charges linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.

Judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin ruled that the charges were defective and inconsistent with the Criminal Procedure Code. - Mkini