KUALA LUMPUR – Muda has joined the chorus of disgruntled voices calling for the government to explain the prosecution’s request for a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) charge for Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
In a statement today, the youth-based party urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to provide clarity on the matter and take responsibility for the decision by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).
“It was very disappointing when the deputy public prosecutor, on behalf of the AGC, requested for a DNAA to halt all proceedings against (Zahid) when the court had already ruled that there was a prima facie case.
“The attorney-general is appointed by the prime minister. We call on unity government leaders to come forward and state their stand on the matter (of the prosecution requesting a DNAA for Zahid). The people have a right to know.”
Muda added that the prosecutions’ “unreasonable” decision has caused the people to doubt the sincerity and freedom of the nation’s legal institution.
Earlier today, Zahid walked out a free man after the high court here granted him a DNAA on 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering involving funds from his charity organisation, Yayasan Akalbudi.
This came after deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar applied for the DNAA, telling the court that the prosecution would like to halt proceedings on all charges against Zahid.
Subsequently, former electoral reform group Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah had called on the prosecution to give a “fuller, honest and open explanation” on their reasons for seeking a DNAA for such a high-profile case.
“The DNAA decision is definitely a setback on the peoples’ movement and tantamount to saying (that) corruption is okay.
“After four years of trial and use of public funds, the public expects a just trial.
“To say that the case can be picked up again at a later stage makes a mockery of the justice system,” the former Petaling Jaya MP said in a statement.
Bersih has since issued its own statement on the matter, reiterating its call for the separation of the public prosecution function and the attorney-general to remove any suspicion of political interference in cases involving politicians.
Expressing similar sentiments, former Malaysian Bar Council Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan did not mince her words when she took to Twitter to condemn the prosecution’s call.
“An utter waste of public funds in proving a prima facie case and a waste of all the hard work by AGC members. An explanation is definitely owed to the public.
“I hope no UG (unity government) politician dares to justify this or ever again say that they are anti-corruption.”
Besides that, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC) chief Latheefa Koya slammed the prosecution’s act as being “shameful,” questioning: “How can this ever be justified?”
“What does this say to our MACC officers who dedicate their lives to fighting corruption? What message is this government sending out?” she said in a Twitter post today.
Zahid’s legal counsel Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik has since said that he will be filing an appeal against the DNAA as the Barisan Nasional chairman is instead seeking for a full acquittal.
The trial was in the defence stage with a total of 15 witnesses – including Zahid – having been called to testify. – September 4, 2023