Why grant Zahid permanent access to passport but not Rosmah, asks Arau MP

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim asked why deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob said he was "instructed" not to object to the appeal by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the permanent return of his passport in the Court of Appeal today. 

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Shahidan also questioned what he described as the special treatment given to Zahid despite the string of criminal charges against him in court. 

He said if Zahid was allowed the return of his passport, former prime minister Najib Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor, should be given the same treatment. 

A three-man panel of judges had granted Zahid permanent access to his international and diplomatic passport for the purpose of carrying out his official duties abroad. 

His passports were surrendered to the court as an additional bail condition after he was charged with 47 counts of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering involving Akalbudi Foundation funds.

Rosmah, meanwhile, was allowed temporary access to her passport last week for travel to Singapore. 

"Why did the deputy public prosecutor say he had received instructions not to object?" said Shahidan. 

"He said in court that he had received instructions not to object. Please answer, I don't understand.

"If we allow this for the deputy prime minister, we should do the same for Rosmah. Rosmah only got temporary access to her passport. 

"Why is it that the deputy prime minister can get his passport back, but not Rosmah?"

Shahidan also urged the government to be fair and not to make selective decisions.

"I say this should be given to everyone," he said. "This is Madani."