Zahid hopes Ismail Sabri gets justice like he did

Summary

• Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi hopes ex-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will receive justice, similar to his own legal experience.

• Zahid was granted a DNAA in 2023 for 47 charges of corruption, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

• MACC is investigating Ismail over Keluarga Malaysia campaign expenses. Ismail was hospitalised after his initial questioning.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed hope that justice will prevail in the case involving former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, similar to his own experience.

He also emphasised that Umno is not involved in MACC’s investigations into the Bera MP and entrusts the corruption watchdog to execute its duties without political interference.

“We respect the MACC, and we hope that the MACC will act fairly and, of course, professionally in carrying out its investigation.

“Personally, I have also experienced such a situation when my case was brought to court, despite various accusations being thrown at me.

“Ultimately, justice was upheld, and I hope the same will happen in court. That is our hope (in this case as well),” he said at the Majlis Santunan Kasih Ramadan 2025 event in Masjid Tanah, Malacca.

On Sept 4, 2023, the court granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for 47 charges of corruption, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

Meanwhile, Zahid also referred to a statement by Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who clarified the party’s stance regarding MACC’s investigation into Ismail.

Asyraf stated that Umno would not hesitate to take legal action against any party that deliberately “associates, accuses, or creates the perception that the party is linked to the ongoing investigation”.

MACC spoke with Ismail’s doctor today to obtain a clearer picture of the former prime minister’s condition and to ensure he is fit to give his statement on the new scheduled date, which is a day after the period stated in his medical certificate.

The commission previously questioned Ismail for five hours on Feb 18 as part of its investigation into expenditures for the Keluarga Malaysia promotional campaign during his tenure as the ninth prime minister, which only lasted 15 months.

Additionally, MACC seized RM170 million in various currencies and 16kg of gold from premises linked to his former aide.

A few days after the first interrogation session, Ismail was reported to have collapsed at his home and was admitted to the hospital.

The following day, on Feb 23, his daughter, Nina Sabrina, stated that her father was “stable and recovering,” while his press secretary, Azran Fitri Rahim, was quoted as saying that Ismail’s blood pressure had slightly increased.

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