ANOTHER round of protest will be held if the government fails to take any action to reopen Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s graft trial, former Putrajaya Umno deputy chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said today. 

He said the next protest could be held in Bagan Datuk, the constituency of the rural and regional development minister. 

“We will continue (this effort to fight for justice).

“Hence, based on what happened today, many others have agreed to do something similar in Permatang Pauh and also in Bagan Datuk. 

“We believe those who voted for these politicians to be lawmakers are also disappointed with what has happened,” the Muafakat Nasional supreme council member said. 

Permatang Pauh is the birth place of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

The rally held today is to protest the attorney-general’s decision to withdraw all 47 corruption charges in the graft trial of Zahid. 

Last week, High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed the prosecution’s application to grant Zahid a discharge not amounting to dismissal (DNAA) on his criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering charges related to Yayasan Akalbudi funds. 

The prosecution said it wanted to halt proceedings so a more in-depth investigation could be done.

Tun Faisal said the proposed subsequent protest is not a threat to the Anwar-led government but to serve as a reminder that the public are not satisfied with the administration. 

The public are starting to feel disappointed at the Anwar’s administration. 

“The public have already shown their frustrations at the state elections as well as the recent by-elections in Johor. 

“The results show that they are shunning the parties in the government. 

“Even Muar lawmaker Syed Saddiq (Syed Abdul Rahman) has withdrawn support to the government following what has happened. 

“So, all these are reminders to the government,” he said. 

Tun Faisal had earlier lodged a police report, among which is to urge the government to charge Zahid again. – September 16, 2023.