'Stop the spin, prove Zahid's innocence in court' - PAS leader

PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad has called on the government to stop “confusing” the people regarding the withdrawal of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamid Hamidi’s corruption charges.

“Enough with the spin,” said the former religious affairs minister in a statement.

“If Pakatan Harapan and BN are convinced that Zahid is innocent, then prove it in court,” he added.

Idris (above) claimed that since coming to power nine months ago, the coalition government has taken several steps to “cleanse” Harapan and Umno.

“The people must know that the decision to withdraw the charges was made by the prosecution, not the court.

“When the prosecution withdrew the charges, the court had no alternative but to let it go,” he added in reference to Zahid being granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).

Since the DNAA leaves the window open for Zahid to be charged again if there is new evidence, his lawyers said an appeal would be filed in order for their client to be given a full acquittal.

"We will make an appeal to the Court of Appeal with regard to the decision made this morning. We are asking for a total acquittal,” senior counsel Hisyam Teh Pok Teik had said after the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision on Sept 3.

Since then, Malaysiakini has contacted Zahid’s legal team several times to ascertain if the appeal was filed but failed to obtain a response.

An appeal must be filed within 14 days of the decision.

‘Not the country we want’

Meanwhile, Idris described the DNAA as one of the current administration’s “achievements” apart from failing to resolve the rising cost of living.

“I am certain this is not the country we want. When politicians can do as they like, what happens to justice and integrity?” he asked.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has denied executive interference, claiming that it was former attorney-general Idrus Harun’s decision to withdraw the charges.

Idrus, who retired on Sept 6, was appointed by the previous PN administration.

The prosecution submitted 11 grounds for withdrawing the charges, including the possibility of Zahid being a victim of selective prosecution.

The Umno president was charged within months of Harapan unseating BN in the 2018 general election.

He was slapped with 47 charges involving multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering related to Yayasan Akalbudi, a charity he had established to eradicate poverty.

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