KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 5 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has today declared that the recent decision to not pursue Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s Yayasan Akalbudi trial as a “black mark” in the nation’s history.
The Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman also blamed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for what he called “damage” to the judiciary resulting from the Pakatan Harapan chairman’s alleged attempt to solidify his power.
“The prime minister must take full responsibility for the damage that is happening in the country’s judiciary which I believe is caused by his own avarice to stay in power.
“It shows his obvious hypocrisy. The slogans of institutional and governance reform that were roared by him were just lies and empty words,” Muhyddin said in a statement here.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president also questioned the reasons for the prosecution to drop the charges against Zahid after it was proven previously there was enough evidence for a prima facie case.
“What is strange is that the prosecution, which has succeeded in proving a prima facie case, is asking the court to drop the charges. Does this mean that the prosecution admits that the evidence presented by them in court cannot be used? Or was there an order from the superiors that this case must be dropped no matter what?
“If it’s true there were instructions to drop Zahid’s case then this is the first time it has ever happened in this country and marks a black mark in our nation’s history,” he added.
The remark came even as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof yesterday said there was no government interference in the matter, as Putrajaya respects the legal process and the separation of powers between the judiciary, the executive and the legislative.
“The decision to drop the charges against the deputy prime minister will shake the confidence of investors in our justice system when a man who is accused of corruption holds the second highest position in the country,” Muhyiddin added.
Yesterday, the prosecution decided to discontinue and drop the Yayasan Akalbudi trial against Zahid — which resulted in the High Court granting a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on Zahid for all 47 charges he faced.
Zahid, who is also Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman, faced 47 charges in this case, namely, 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in relation to over RM31 million of his charitable organisation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges of over RM21.25 million in alleged bribes.
Yayasan Akalbudi was founded with the purported objectives of receiving and administering funds for the eradication of poverty and enhancing the welfare of the poor.
The decision to drop the case despite the prosecution previously having shown a prima facie case, was panned by both sides of the political divide.
DAP, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance, and electoral watchdog Bersih were among those who have called the Attorney General’s Chambers to explain the decision.
