Muda quits ruling bloc as Zahid DNAA aftermath gathers heat

Youth-based party Muda has quit the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government bloc in a sign of protest against the move to discharge Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of 47 corruption charges linked to Yayasan Akalbudi.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said Muda would now function as an opposition third force.

“This is the start of normalising corruption,” he said in a Twitter post today.

“We cannot and will not tolerate this unprincipled move. I would rather be punished than lose my principles and commit such a big sin.”

Zahid, the Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman, had faced 12 counts of criminal breach of trust, eight of corruption, and 27 of money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to the charity foundation.

He was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal or DNAA on Sept 4 after deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, who was appointed just last month to replace Raja Rozela Raja Toran following her sudden "early retirement", informed the judge of the request by the Attorney-General's Chambers to discontinue all proceedings against him.

Syed Saddiq had previously threatened to pull out of the government bloc, leading to a war of words with some DAP leaders. 

On Sept 8, DAP central committee member and Ipoh Timur MP Howard Lee Chuan How challenged the Muar MP to make good on his word, saying Muda’s withdrawal from the coalition government would make it easier to focus. 

"Our task in building the nation and attending to the people's welfare will be easier because we won't need to deal with 'childish' acts of certain individuals and parties," Lee said.