JOHOR BY-ELECTIONS | The close relationship between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, is like a candle that burns itself, said Perikatan Nasional Youth deputy chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.
He claimed that Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan chairperson, was willing to sacrifice the integrity of his reforms just to "save the life" of his beloved student.
"Ladies and gentlemen, do you know the love story of today's teacher and student? The people of Simpang Jeram must know (the story) of a teacher (Anwar) who is willing to burn himself like a candle, who is willing to sacrifice the integrity of his reforms to save the life of his beloved student (Zahid).
"Malaysia was surprised (by the release of Zahid), but (it) is not strange and we had expected that the country's number two would be given a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) on 47 charges in a court case of abuse of power, and corruption that he has faced for four years," Wan Fayhsal said at the PN Youth talk in Sungai Abong, Muar, last night.
Zahid was facing 47 charges of corruption, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.
Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah granted the DNAA sought by deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar.
A person who is released without acquittal is still subject to the possibility of being charged again in the future if the Attorney-General's Chambers wishes to review the matter.
The decision to grant Zahid the DNAA has sparked criticisms from various parties, including government supporters, and also prompted pressure groups and private individuals to urge the government to expedite steps to separate the powers of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor.
Elaborating on the court decision, Wan Fayshal, who is the Machang MP, said it was a black spot in the history of national justice.
He questioned why a person who had faced 47 charges in court and had been tried for four years in a case that had almost reached the finish line would have the charges withdrawn when the prosecution had established prima facie.
"It means that Zahid has to come up with a defence that can cast reasonable doubt (on his case) so that he is really clean and free," he claimed.
Recalling Amanah president Mohamad Sabu's speech during the 15th general election campaign, Wan Fayhsal said the Chinese voters had been cheated by the entire Harapan machinery, especially the DAP, with its promise to imprison the Umno president.
"Mat Sabu, when he was campaigning for GE15 together with the entire Harapan machinery, especially the DAP, said we should not send Zahid to Putrajaya but send him to Sungai Buloh.
"Chinese voters, you have been lied to by DAP, because it was said that we (PN-BN) would collude and drop the Zahid case.
"The one who did that work is the Harapan leader who is in the unity government today," he said.
He said that as long as Zahid steers his party, Umno will remain under the guidance of DAP.
"Umno will remain a cow led by the nose by DAP. When Pulai Umno leader (Nur Jazlan Mohamed) asked DAP to drop Malaysian Malaysia, Anthony Loke (DAP secretary-general) said 'this is not necessary for our (DAP) constitution'.
"It is a disgrace to Johor Umno," he said.
'Not the same as Muhyiddin'
Meanwhile, on the same stage, PN Youth leader Ahmad Fadhli Shaari urged Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to retract his statement equating the case of Zahid to that of Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.
"In Muhyiddin's case, the court acquitted him. The judge made the decision. In the case of Zahid, the judge made the decision but based on the prosecutor's request that the court stop the proceedings.
"Suddenly, the prosecutor came to the court, asking the court to stop the proceedings after the case had been going on for four years.
"It is not logical and this proves that today's case has become absurd," he claimed.
Fadhli, who is also PAS youth leader, said the reforms that Harapan had touted all this time had died with the court decision.
"Reformasi is dead. For decades, reformasi was chanted. Today, it's dead. The one who buried it, the one who killed it, is the person who founded it, Anwar Ibrahim," he said. - Mkini
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