As Najib, Zahid eye escape route, PKR man warns PH of collapse

Vocal PKR MP Hassan Karim has again emerged with a stinging criticism of his party chief and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, warning that any move to drop the criminal charges against his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and to secure a royal pardon for jailed former leader Najib Razak could lead to the fall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition.

"The political coalition of PH and PKR will be rejected by the people in the six coming state elections. This will be followed by PH and PKR being rejected by the people at the next general election. 

"In the end, PH and PKR will collapse together with Barisan Nasional and Umno if Najib Razak and Zahid Hamidi are freed and get off so easily.

"If this happens, don't say I didn't remind," the Pasir Gudang MP said.

Anwar is currently at the centre of a fresh bid by Umno to plead for a royal pardon for Najib's release from prison. 

Najib began serving 12 years at Kajang Prison after being convicted in the SRC International case. Last week, he failed in his review application to set aside the conviction, following which Umno leaders said they would seek an audience with the Agong to ask for a royal pardon. 

Anwar earlier indicated that he was among those on the Pardons Board, the body tasked with advising the Agong on applications for pardons for convicted persons.

Observers have said that the situation poses a dilemma for Anwar, whose government was formed last year on the back of Zahid's commitment of support from BN MPs for the PKR leader.

PH was at the forefront of a campaign against Najib over the 1MDB scandal, and failure by the coalition leaders to speak up against any move to pardon him would be seen as a blow to Anwar's image.

The pardon bid has sparked speculation that Umno leaders are attempting to redeem their support for Anwar by making demands.

This was fuelled today by the postponement of Zahid's corruption trial, with his lawyers informing the court that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was conducting "further investigations" on new evidence from the defence, which has applied for charges to be dropped.

Government lawyers meanwhile announced to the court that they were under instructions from the attorney-general not to object to the postponement.

Just last month, Zahid, who is facing multiple charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving tens of millions, succeeded in his bid for the return of his passport, ending the travel ban earlier imposed on him. 

Hassan said the developments in Zahid's case were "very frightening and worrying" as the attorney-general was involved in the Pardons Board hearing Najib's case, as well as in deciding whether to drop the charges against Zahid.

Hassan said the attorney-general had been granted wide powers, where the Agong is expected to act according to his advice.

"The power of the attorney-general to drop the 47 charges against Zahid Hamidi are almost absolute under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution," he added.

He also said it would be catastrophic for the government led by Anwar in the event that Najib is pardoned and the charges against Zahid dropped.