How much did Zahid probe, court case cost the govt, asks MP

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said opposition MPs must be given the opportunity to debate Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s conditional discharge in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.

KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition has demanded the government to provide full details on the costs incurred throughout the four-year-long probe against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his Yayasan Akalbudi case.

Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said this was most pertinent after the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had suddenly decided to apply for a conditional discharge for the deputy prime minister.

“How much in legal and investigation costs (were incurred by the government) over the last four years?

“These are the matters we wanted to ask in the Dewan because the (law and institutional reform) minister has to answer (these questions).

“But the minister did not answer,” the Bersatu leader told reporters at a press conference in the Parliament building.

He also expressed his disappointment with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul for not giving him the opportunity to debate the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) given to Zahid for his graft charges, after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim tabled the 12th Malaysia Plan’s mid-term review.

Earlier, Johari confirmed that the emergency motion tabled by Wan Fayhsal last week to debate Zahid’s DNAA was rejected. However, he said that the Perikatan Nasional MP will be given the opportunity to raise the matter in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“We followed the (Dewan’s) rules, but sadly, the Speaker has broken his promise,” Wan Fayhsal said.

He added that the opposition MPs wanted to know whether they will get the opportunity to debate Zahid’s DNAA in the lower house tomorrow, as Malaysians seek answers on the AGC’s decision to request a DNAA despite prima facie having been established in Zahid’s case.

“We would like to ask what is there to fear. What is there to hide?

“Why is it so immune (to examination) that we cannot debate this matter? It is of public interest as it is related to our justice system,” Wan Fayhsal said.

Last Monday, Zahid was granted a DNAA on 47 charges of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

He had been accused of embezzling millions of ringgit from his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister between 2013 and 2018. - FMT