Zahid's DNAA: Were they orders from 'above', asks Muhyiddin

 

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has questioned if there were "orders from superiors" for the Attorney-General’s Chambers to withdraw the 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Calling the episode "immoral" and a “black mark” in the country's judicial history, the former premier also urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take responsibility for the matter.

"In this case, Zahid (above, right) was charged in court and the prosecution proved the case prima facie by submitting documented statements and 99 witnesses.

"This means the court was satisfied with the solid evidence of Zahid's crime and called him to enter his defence," Muhyiddin said in a statement on Facebook today.

Given the facts, it was absurd for the prosecution to ask the court to drop the charges, he added.

"Does this mean that the evidence submitted by the prosecution in court cannot be used?

"Or were there orders from the 'superiors' for the cases to be dropped in whatever way possible?"

PM must take responsibility

Even if there was an executive intervention, dropping the charges against Zahid after the Umno president was called to enter his defence was a "black mark" in the country's judicial history, Muhyiddin alleged.

"Such a thing has never happened in the history of independent Malaysia.

"The prime minister must take full responsibility for the 'rot' that is happening in the judicial system, which I believe is caused by his own lust to remain in power," he added.

PM Anwar Ibrahim

The Pagoh MP also believes the withdrawal of cases against Zahid would affect investors' confidence in the nation's judiciary.

"As if appointing a person facing corruption charges to the second top position was not enough, now the charges against him have been dropped. Malaysia has become a 'rogue state'.

"It is time for the rakyat to evaluate the legitimacy of the coalition government, which is supposed to champion the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution," Muhyiddin said. - Mkini