KOTA BHARU - Kota Bharu Umno chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, said the High Court's decision to discharge Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi without an acquittal was an awakening for all Kelantan Umno members to continue to defend against enemy slander.
He elaborated that they believed that truth would always prevail over falsehood.
"Umno Kelantan expresses gratitude to Allah SWT for the High Court's decision earlier.
"This decision clearly exposes the malicious agenda of certain groups in the past who intentionally fabricated political charges against Umno leaders," he said in a statement on Monday.
He added that Kelantan Umno hopes that the judiciary will become a bulwark for the justice system under the Unity Government to free Malaysia from all political prosecutions.
He added that as a Malay party firmly rooted in Islamic teachings, they have faith in Allah SWT's words in Surah Ali-Imran verse 54: "They plan, and Allah plans. Surely, Allah is the best of planners."
Previously, Sinar reported that Kuala Lumpur high court on Monday released Zahid without acquittal in the case involving Akalbudi Foundation funds.
Zahid's lawyer, Datuk Ahmad Zaidi Zainal, stated that the court's decision did not create a negative perception of the country's legal institutions, especially the Attorney General's Chambers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He noted that one of Ahmad Zahid's defenses in his trial was that it was a case of political prosecution.