KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 24 — Johor Umno leader Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has called for an immediate investigation into former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas for alleged “political prosecution” against veteran politician Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad.
The Umno Supreme Council member said that it was evident through Thomas’ insistence that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecute Shahrir even though the investigation papers (IPs) on the case were incomplete.
“The testimony by a MACC investigating officer was proof that Thomas had carried out selective prosecution.
“The witness admitted that the investigation paper for Shahrir’s case was incomplete. It is strange that Thomas continued the prosecution,” said Mohd Puad in a posting late yesterday on his official Facebook account.
Yesterday, MACC investigating officer Nurzahidah Yacop told the Kuala Lumpur High Court that she was instructed by the prosecution, with permission given by Thomas on January 15, 2020, to charge Shahrir. However, the investigation papers on the case were still incomplete.
She said this when cross-examined by Shahrir’s lawyer Datuk Syed Faisal Syed Abdullah Al-Edros at the trial of the former Johor Baru MP, who is facing a charge of failing to declare to the Inland Revenue Board the RM1 million he received from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Mohd Puad, also the Johor state legislative speaker, also questioned if “political prosecution: under the guise of legal action, was taken against several Umno leaders during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s second stint as prime minister.
He was of the opinion that such actions were politically motivated and that the reason for hauling the Umno leaders to court was in support of the so-called “court cluster” narrative.
Mohd Puad also questioned if the MACC was used as a political tool during that period.
“What happened to MACC [at that time]?” he asked, adding that claims of non-political interference in court cases during that period were just nonsense.
