In late-night response, DAP's Loke urges AG to explain Zahid discharge

DAP has urged outgoing Attorney-General Idrus Harun to explain the government's move to drop 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

In a late-night response following a chorus of condemnation by Malaysians on social media, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said Idrus should publicly explain the factors leading to the move by the Attorney-General's Chambers to apply for a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for the Umno leader.

"The explanation is important to ensure the confidence of the public and the international community in the country's legal system is protected," he said in a Facebook post past midnight.

He also said the DNAA application was the prerogrative of the attorney-general to "temporarily halt the proceedings pending a more detailed investigation".

The news that Zahid had been given a discharge for the 47 corruption charges against him in the Yayasan Akalbudi trial was greeted with anger and shock, with many recalling the prima facie case established at the onset of the trial last year.

Zahid faced 47 charges: 12 of criminal breach of trust, eight of corruption, and 27 of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to the charity foundation.

Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, who was appointed just last month to replace Raja Rozela Raja Toran following her sudden "early retirement", had informed judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah of the Attorney-General's Chambers' request to discontinue all proceedings against Zahid.