THE decision of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) not to continue with the prosecution of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has nothing to do with the executive powers of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.

He said the AGC’s actions and jurisdiction were based on article 145 of the Federal Constitution.

“To prosecute or not to prosecute, to proceed or withdraw (prosecution), that’s the jurisdiction within the (Federal) Constitution… that’s why I refute all accusations and assumptions that the AGC’s decisions rest with the prime minister,” he told reporters after a Pakatan Harapan political talk in Taman Anggerik, Kempas, Johor Baru.

Saifuddin was commenting on the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision yesterday to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to acquittal relating to 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah made the ruling after allowing deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar’s application that the AGC wished to stop all proceedings against Zahid.

On Subang MP Wong Chen’s suggestion to conduct institutional reforms on the separation of power between the AG and the prosecutors’ office, Saifuddin said the current system was inherited from the previous administrations, and the appointment of the AG was based on the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong following the motion of the chief executive.

“This isn’t the first time (the appointment of the AG was done based on the motion of the chief executive). We inherited the system. If there’s any motion to change the situation… we will look at it,” he said. – Bernama, September 5, 2023.