PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim said former attorney general Idrus Harun was adamant about concluding Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s case before going on leave prior to retirement. 

Anwar reiterated that it was Idrus who decided to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the Yayasan Akalbudi graft case.  

“Idrus was in favour of continuing the charges, but later, he read the new facts presented in the 200-plus-page (letter) of representation (sent by Zahid’s lawyers).  

“As the prime minister, I was aware of the repercussions (of the DNAA), and I had to discuss in length with the ex-AG the reasons and the timing behind the move,” Anwar told reporters after attending Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek in Seri Petaling today.  

Anwar said he would have preferred the decision to be made later, after tomorrow’s Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections as well as next month’s Pelangai by-election.  

“He (Idrus) was merely carrying out his responsibility. He didn’t want to leave his duty to anyone else.”  

The Pakatan Harapan chairman said he was aware of the repercussions of granting Zahid a DNAA.  

He, however, called on critics to read the 11 reasons cited by the prosecutor in proposing the withdrawal.  

“The process is such. It’s unfair to persecute someone just because we like or don’t like a certain politician.  

“As I have stressed before, all cases are different. A lot of cases (accused) have walked free, even before trial, or after,” Anwar said, urging people not to fall for incitement perpetuated by certain politicians.  

On Tuesday, Anwar denied having a hand in the DNAA granted to Zahid, stressing it was the Attorney-General’s Chambers’s (AGC) decision.  

“The AG had full authority and he gave his reasons. “It is the AG’s decision, and I can’t interfere,” Anwar was quoted as saying in Jakarta by Astro Awani.  

The prosecution on Monday applied for a DNAA on all 47 charges levelled against Zahid on alleged corruption involving Yayasan Akalbudi.  

This was despite judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah’s finding that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the Umno president, who was ordered to enter his defence.  

The prosecution said the DNAA request was for several reasons, including to allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct further investigations and look into the possibility of there being selective prosecution; and to wait for the Royal Commission of Inquiry’ scrutiny of former attorney-general Tommy Thomas’ memoir.  

The DNAA was granted in line with Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution, which states that the AG has full authority to withdraw charges. – September 8, 2023.