THE Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Human Rights, Election and Institutional Reform will call up the attorney-general and his predecessor to explain the decision to withdraw corruption charges against Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in connection with the funds of Yayasan Akalbudi.

Committee chairman William Leong told parliament this morning that a full report would be tabled to the House after the two top lawyers were interviewed.

“I have made a statement that the committee will summon the attorney-general (and former attorney-general) to explain the withdrawal,” Leong said.

“The (committee) will table the findings once the probe is completed.”

The two interviewees are AG Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh and Idrus Harun, who served before him.

Leong was responding to a question from the opposition bloc to Speaker Johari Abdul about whether the latter would allow Zahid’s discharge to be debated in parliament.

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, who is a member of the select committee, had said that he had not been notified of the decision for a hearing.

Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong accused Shahidan of trying to mislead parliament.

“As a PSSC member Arau ought to know of the decision. Why is Arau trying to stir up the matter when a decision has been made? The circular has been shared,” said Khoo.Arau repeated that he had not received word of the hearing.

The Attorney-General’s Chambers had stated that there were cogent reasons to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.

Last week High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the prosecution to discharge Zahid of all 47 of charge criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering charges in relation to Yayasan Akalbudi funds.

The prosecution said it wished to halt proceedings to make way for further investigation into the case. – September 12, 2023.