PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he would be abusing his powers if he ordered the corruption trial of his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to continue. 

Commenting on Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s threat to withdraw his party’s support for the unity government if no detailed explanation was given on the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Zahid, Anwar said he understood the backlash the decision created. 

He blamed it on the “system he inherited”, built up over the last few decades where “greedy, cruel politicians” abused their powers, like meddling with the judiciary to victimise people. 

“It is the MACC or the police who investigate, the attorney-general prosecutes, and the judges decide,” he said to reporters after Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek in Seri Petaling.  

The Pakatan Harapan chairman said he was a victim of the aforementioned meddling.  

“Now that I’m the prime minister, I’m not willing to use it against anyone else,” he said. 

He said since taking office nine months ago, he had never once intervened in judicial proceedings. 

If Syed Saddiq follows through with his threat, Anwar’s unity government would lose its two-thirds majority in parliament. 

Muda also demanded that the Attorney-General’s Chambers provide a detailed explanation of the DNAA in parliament, which convenes next week, so it can be debated. 

Anwar had said earlier parliament was not the proper forum to discuss court cases. – September 8, 2023.