Anwar explains absence from presser, likens Riza's case to chicken theft
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim explained his absence during press conference attended by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as Pakatan Harapan and Warisan leaders.
"The answer is simple - It wasn't Harapan press conference," he told a live session on Facebook today.
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim explained his absence during press conference attended by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as Pakatan Harapan and Warisan leaders.
"The answer is simple - It wasn't Harapan press conference," he told a live session on Facebook today.
Anwar said Harapan leaders had agreed in an earlier meeting that they would issue a joint-statement with Bersatu and Warisan.
"Therefore, we did not hold a Harapan press conference.
"However, that does not stop DAP, Bersatu, Amanah or PKR from holding their own press conferences or for MPs to air their views.
"So, I would like to clarify that it was not a Harapan press conference. But we are democratic about airing views," he added.
Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Warisan president Shafie Apdal and Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir were present at the press conference in Putrajaya after the conclusion of the one-day Parliament sitting on Monday.
The absence of Anwar and other PKR representatives ignited speculation on whether the party was keen on continuing its cooperation with Mahathir.
Mahathir, whose position as Bersatu chairperson is in dispute, took the lead during the press conference.
The former premier is engaged in a power struggle with his successor and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin for control of the party.
Muhyiddin withdrew Bersatu from Harapan to form the new Perikatan Nasional government with PKR defectors, BN, PAS, GPS, PBS and Star while Mahathir wants Bersatu back in Harapan.
Following Bersatu's exit, Mahathir could no longer hold the position of Harapan chairperson and Anwar has since been appointed as the new chair.
Some PKR leaders have expressed reluctance over the continued cooperation with Mahathir as they blame Bersatu for the collapse of the Harapan government.
Amanah and DAP, on the other hand, have been more receptive.
Anwar has also indicated willingness to work with Mahathir but PKR appears to want the cooperation to be on its terms.
During Monday's press conference, Mahathir raised, among others, the Attorney-General's Chambers' decision to grant former premier Najib Abdul Razak's stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) as part of a plea bargain.
Anwar: Steal 10 chickens, return one
Anwar, in his live session this morning, raised similar concerns.
"How is the settlement reasonable?" he asked.
He likened the situation to someone stealing 10 chickens and is later let off by returning one chicken.
Riza was granted a DNAA on May 14 for his money laundering charges involving US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) linked to 1MDB funds.
The prosecution did not reveal the exact terms of the plea bargain but the MACC said it would see US$107.3 million (RM465.3 million) in overseas assets returned to the Malaysian government.
Riza was also accused of using 1MDB-linked funds to produce Hollywood films, including the Oscar-nominated Wolf of Wall Street through his firm Red Granite Pictures.
Red Granite had since entered into a settlement with the US government which was seeking to forfeit proceeds from the film which it said was produced using illegal funds.
Red Granite reached a settlement to the tune of US$60 million without any admission of guilt.
The money was subsequently returned to the Malaysian government.
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