WE may not know all the facts, but perceptions matter when we have a unity government that speaks about Malaysia Madani.  

I respect the prime minister but to say the dropping of charges against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the attorney general’s decision alone is not enough to sway us. After all, the AG is part of the executive. 

Even if the PM is not involved, he must ensure that steps are taken to deal with such anomalies. Otherwise, as a reformist, he is condoning an unjust practice. 

Why did the Chief Prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran resign prior to the announcement of this decision? If I were in her position, that would be the only option. She left with her credibility intact.  

Secondly, why was this done just when the outgoing AG was stepping down? It speaks of an underhanded approach – at a time when the PM was away attending an Asean meeting.  

Maybe one is reading too much into all these coincidences! Yet, it is important for the powers that be to wake up and realise the general public are not stupid. 

Many of us have been following the court proceedings closely and a prima facie case has been made out. I can understand if some of the charges were badly framed but to discharge him from all 47 charges raises doubts about the AG’s credibility.  

Look at the time spent and costs incurred and the issues relating to criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering. So much money, time and effort expended only to end up with zero. Is this how the unity government is saving money? 

It would be good at this time to look back and review some other developments in a similar vein. Lim Guan Eng was acquitted of graft. The late spy chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid secured a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in her RM50.4 million criminal breach of trust case. Then we have Tengku Adnan who was also granted a DNAA for corruption.  

There are several Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission cases that have gone quiet. I remember the case of the CEO of SSM embroiled in a computer issue with her son, which led to her resignation and subsequent investigation.  

We also have the issue of a former Bank Negara governor who had to resign over a land transaction issue. We witnessed pictures of rooms stacked with money and the prosecution of the Batu Caves temple head. What is the current status of all these cases? 

Is this typically Malaysian justice where who you know makes the difference? 

Another perception is that the prosecution side of MACC is weak and unable to meet the challenges posed by private lawyers who have the capacity to raise issues not adequately answered by the AGC.  

It would be good if the new AG appointed fresh external prosecutors to challenge the issues raised. If the new AG has integrity, he would do so. – September 8, 2023. 

* K. Haridas reads The Malaysian Insight. 

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.