PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim has not rejected the possibility of answering questions in parliament about his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA).

“Maybe, God willing,” he was quoted by The New Straits Times as telling reporters today.

Anwar said this at Kompleks Nasyrul Quran in Putrajaya after sending off three shipping containers with 30,000 copies of the Quran, translated to English and Chinese, to Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah last week allowed the prosecution’s application to grant Zahid a DNAA on 47 counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering in relation to Yayasan Akalbudi funds. The prosecution wanted to halt proceedings to allow a more in-depth investigation.

The charges were brought against Zahid, 70, in 2018 and 2019.

The 77-day trial, which began in November 2019, saw 114 witnesses giving their testimonies.

The High Court in January last year ordered Zahid to enter his defence on all 47 charges. He was among 15 defence witnesses who testified.

PKR’s Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim urged the prime minister to put an end to speculation surrounding his deputy’s DNAA.

Hassan gave a fiery speech in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday defending Anwar, who was being accused of judicial interference.

“I am here to defend my leader and our prime minister. We cannot blame the judge or the judiciary for the discharge. In this case, the attorney-general (AG) is responsible.

“The discharge not amounting to acquittal that was granted to Bagan Datuk is the AG’s prerogative and I, as soon as the court made its decision, wrote a poem. I am dissatisfied and the AG has to present himself before a select committee,” said Hassan.

“When the court made its decision, our PM was in Jakarta and I read in various media reports that he didn’t interfere (in the ruling).

“For justice, we want to hear from the PM directly in this house so this DNAA issue can be put to rest,” he said. – September 15, 2023.