PKR Youth has questioned the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) move to grant Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) in his corruption trial.

Tyra Hanim Razali, vice-chief of Anwar Ibrahim-led PKR’s youth wing, alleged there could be a planned conspiracy in the decision to withdraw 47 corruption charges against the Umno president, despite the AG’s explanation of the decision.

“This event is as if there is a ‘plot’ planned by an irresponsible party that needs to be identified.

“We question the credibility of the AGC, which seems to have political motives in this case. Its explanation is incomplete and raises more questions in the general public,” said Tyra in a statement today.

The AGC said the application for a DNAA in Zahid’s corruption case was based on cogent reasons.

“Based on media reports that the AGC’s move to withdraw the charges against Zahid was immoral, the department would like to stress the decision was made based on reasons given and accepted by the court,” the AGC said in a statement.

Earlier, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the prosecution’s application to grant Zahid a DNAA on his 47 criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering charges related to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

The prosecution said it wanted to halt proceedings so a more in-depth investigation can be done.

Tyra alleged something was “amiss”, adding that then attorney-general Idrus Harun was on pre-retirement leave when the ruling was made, and that deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran, who had successfully established a prima facie case against Zahid, was reported to have applied for early retirement.

“We also question the behaviour of the AG appointed by Muhyiddin Yassin since 2020 – Idrus Harun – who was also reported to be on leave pending his retirement.

“While the role was taken over by Solicitor-General Ahmad Terriruddin Mohd Salleh, the drastic decision to apply for a DNAA in the case was made during that period by (public prosecutor) Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar,” she said.

Tyra said Zahid’s DNAA tarnished the image of the unity government as the driver of change and reforms, and also dented the public’s confidence in Malaysia Madani.

She urged the government to hold a special parliamentary session to discuss the DNAA granted to Zahid.

“There is no denying the benefits of a mixed unity government are great, but we cannot lose our identity and our decades-long struggle when we are in power.

“We do not want to continue to be punished by the people in the present and the next decade,” she said.

Earlier, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin questioned if the prosecution had received orders from its “superiors” to discharge Zahid in his corruption case.

Muhyiddin said if it was true there was such an order, then dropping the charges against Zahid after he was ordered to enter his defence represented a black spot in the country’s justice system.

Meanwhile, Muda, which is part of the unity government, said it would initiate a nationwide campaign to pressure the AGC to again prosecute Zahid for corruption. – September 7, 2023.