Will Zahid's charges be dropped or not, Bersatu urges clear answer from AG

Bersatu has urged Attorney-General Idrus Harun to immediately state whether the corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will be dropped, a day after his office denied any political interference or pressure in the cases brought to court so far. 

Zahid, the Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman, sent a letter of representation to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in January for the 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering against him to be dropped.

The prosecution later said that it had been instructed by the attorney-general not to object to the application for an adjournment of trial pending a decision on the letter of representation.

"After going through the representation which is lengthy and contained complex issues, we were instructed not to object to the application (for an adjournment of hearing) because the prosecution needs reasonable time to consider (the representation)," deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob said.

In a statement today, Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif, the deputy chairman of Bersatu's legal and constitution bureau, said the trial had resumed only this month, with the prosecution saying that the representation was still under consideration. 

"Why is the attorney-general still not able to decide upon it? There is now increasing public concern that the charges against Zahid, whose support is critical for the survival of Anwar Ibrahim’s government, may be dropped. 

"This is especially so since the uncompromising lead prosecutor Raja Rozela was dropped from the case," she added, referring to Raja Rozela Raja Toran, whom Idrus said earlier this month had applied for early retirement following an absence from court.

Urging Idrus to stop "beating around the bush" on Zahid's case, Sasha said he should state immediately and clearly whether the corruption charges against Zahid would be dropped. 

"It is in the interest of the public and investor confidence that there be no further doubt over the status of this case," she added. 

Zahid, who was instrumental in committing the support of his 30 BN MPs for Anwar's government, faces 12 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), eight of corruption, and 27 of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

Among the CBT charges is that he allegedly settled his credit card debts using Yayasan Akalbudi through 44 cheques amounting to some RM1.3 million between January 2013 and December 2016.

Sasha said the string of charges against Perikatan Nasional leaders following the general election last year had cast doubt on the independence of the AGC. 

"The attorney-general has to face this fact and act accordingly to restore public confidence in the AGC," she added. 

"Issuing statements claiming that he is independent are mere empty words and inadequate."