Zahid to take legal action against Mahathir over claim on graft case

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied asking Dr Mahathir Mohamad to intervene in the criminal charges against him, saying he has instructed his lawyer to issue a letter of demand to the former prime minister over his remarks made at a press conference earlier today.

In a Facebook post, Zahid questioned Mahathir’s statement that he had come to his house together with several others to ask for help from the veteran statesman.

“I was invited along with the presidents of other parties to support Mahathir in forming a unity government.

“Why would I ask for the charges against me to be dropped in front of others?” he added. “I never once asked Mahathir to do anything of the sort.”

Mahathir said at a press conference in Putrajaya that Zahid had tried to make nice with him.

“But I already knew about Zahid’s troubles, that there was a possibility that he would be arrested over his criminal cases,” he said.

He also said he had learnt after Umno returned to power that Zahid was still trying to get help in having the corruption charges against him dropped.

“That is Zahid… and he wanted the investigations against him dropped as well, that is the truth,” he said.

But Zahid asked why he would lobby for the charges against him to be dropped before Mahathir became the seventh prime minister.

“At that point, I was the deputy prime minister and there was no corruption investigation let alone charges.

“I have instructed my lawyer to issue Mahathir a letter of demand for him to apologise for his lies.”

Zahid faces a total of 87 charges, including 47 of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving funds from charity outfit Yayasan Akalbudi.

The remaining 40 see Zahid accused of accepting bribes from a company related to the overseas visa system.

He was told in January this year to enter his defence for the 47 charges linked to Yayasan Akalbudi.

Mahathir’s comments today followed those of Muhyiddin Yassin, who said he had likewise been approached by Zahid after becoming prime minister in an attempt to have his corruption charges dropped, a revelation first reported by MalaysiaNow in March last year.

Zahid had denied approaching Muhyiddin as well, saying he was willing to take an oath or “sumpah laknat” on the matter.

But he made no mention of legal action against the Bersatu president.