Veteran lawyer and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh has urged the attorney-general (AG) to charge Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi with assault and battery, and attempted murder of his client, businessman Amir Bazli Abdullah, in 2006.

NONE Karpal ( left in photo ) said that there is no time frame for the AG to prosecute, and that it could do so.

“If you look at the nature of Amir Bazli Abdullah’s injuries and the police report lodged against Zahid, one is left wondering why no prosecution was done. These are very serious injuries and this is a serious matter.

“I have written to the AG over this as it is a serious matter that requires prosecution. However, he declined. It is still not too late. This shows the nature in this country (in not taking action) when people in high places are involved,” he added.

He said this is a clear-cut assault and battery case as there was enough evidence from Amir Bazli.

Karpal said today’s decision means that the matter will go for a full trial and the court decided that the suit is not frivolous.

“They (Ahmad Zahid’s lawyers) have tried to strike out the suit at the High Court and it was dismissed, and they tried it again at the Court of Appeal and again here .

“Let the matter go to a full trial,” he said.

Whatever it is, Karpal declared that Ahmad Zahid is not fit to continue as a minister.

‘Suspend Zahid’

Meanwhile, lawyer and Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has urged that Zahid be suspended as a minister pending the hearing of the civil suit at the Shah Alam High Court, which is scheduled in August.

“I reiterate my urging to the prime minister to suspend Ahmad Zahid as the home minister pending trial. I will also raise the matter in Parliament,” he said.

“The allegations against him are serious in nature and they extend beyond assault,” he said.

In reading out Ahmad Bazli's police report, Gobind said Ahmad Bazli was slapped, punched and hit with a hard object and they even threaten to cut off both his hands.

Even Ahmad Zahid, he said, allegedly threatened to put Ahmad Bazli in a gunny sack for the businessman to be buried, until this was stopped by the minister’s wife.

“These are serious allegation and the PM must explain why he sees it fit to have Ahmad Zahid remain as the home minister,” he said.

The Puchong lawmaker said, look at the A Kugan case where the judge found against the police and (present inspector-general of police) Khalid Abu Bakar.

Yet, he said, Khalid was promoted to become the IGP.

“The court has said something against the IGP. Yet he remains. I do not understand the PM, is he out in the woods, not being able to see the implications of his actions (to maintain them).

“We will have a home minister going for trial for something this serious soon. I reiterate my urging to remove him, or otherwise the PM should explain in these circumstances why Ahmad Zahid should remain as a minister in his cabinet and home minister.”

Amir Bazli said the extent of the injury to his left eye as a result of the 2006 assault, had resulted in him having blurred vision till today, and he also showed his dented forehead following the fracture.