Muhyiddin needs reality check before criticising Zahid's appointment - PH Perlis' Noor Amin

SHAH ALAM: Cabinet members involved in court cases are not dissimilar to those who have benefited from political interference to block investigations and prosecution of criminal cases involving them, Pakatan Harapan (PH) Perlis chairman Noor Amin Ahmad said today.

Citing the case of a sex video featuring two men, including one that resembled a minister that went viral in 2019, Noor Amin hinted that it seemed obvious that police had not pursued prosecution despite one of the men admitting that he had sex with the alleged minister at a hotel room in Sandakan.

"I'd like to ask Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was Home Minister in 2019, whether it was political interference that resulted in the police investigations coming to a halt and for the police to come up with a mind-boggling statement that the video was blurred and they could not identify the individuals in it," said Noor Amin.

He was responding to Muhyiddin's tyrade against the Unity Government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the appointment of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as Deputy Prime Minister while he was still facing court cases over 47 graft charges.

Zahid had last month been acquitted of 40 similar charges at the Shah Alam Court, where the judge found the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie over all charges.

Zahid has claimed the 87 charges filed against him since 2018 as selective prosecution by political rivals aimed at bringing him down.

Noor Amin also called out Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Sanusi Mohd Noor and PN information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan for their statements on the matter.

"A person resembling that actor in the sex video was then appointed as a Senior Minister, which was on par with a Deputy Prime Minister, by Muhyiddin. So, I would like to ask Sanusi, is this what he keeps repeating as "Kerajaan Luar Tabii" (Unnatural Government)? Was there political interference to stop investigations, so that this unnatural person could be appointed as a Senior Minister?" he said.

Noor Amin, who is Kangar MP, said people should realise that while Muhyiddin claims there may be political interference in the judiciary by the new government, the main obstacle in the battle against graft involving the political elite was interference in law enforcement at investigation and prosecution level.

"The main issue with this is political interference in the enforcement of the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), where investigations of cases involving the political elite have been forced to stop and blocked from proceeding to prosecution.

“This has allowed the corrupt to have free reign with impunity.

"In the case of Zahid, he has been investigated and been charged. He is facing justice in court and has yet to be proven guilty.

“Muhyiddin's claims are suggesting he will be set free,” he said.

In a press conference following a Special Cabinet Meeting two days ago, Anwar stated there will be no interference from the government in law enforcement and that the police and MACC were free to run investigations into cases involving the government, echoing the government's stance on ensuring a judiciary free of political manipulation.

Anwar was also quoted saying that this move was to ensure the laws enforced were fair and that there were no selective prosecution.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the same thing yesterday during a press conference after clocking in for duty.

Noor Amin said Muhyiddin should thus focus on providing the check and balance that he has promised and point out if interference in the judiciary does actually occur.

"But if Muhyiddin says a person cannot be appointed Deputy Prime Minister as he is facing court cases in which he is yet to be proven guilty, then he too has a lot of questions to be answered about he appointment of his Cabinet members," said he said.

Noor Amin said answers should be sought from Muhyiddin on whether he as Home Minister in 2019 and then Prime Minister from 2020 until last year, had interfered in police investigations into the sex video involving the two men to protect the minister who resembled an actor in the video.

"And if he did, was it for the sake of protecting that person so that he could appoint him as a senior minister in his Cabinet? If so, then I am not sure if Muhyiddin is the right person to be speaking of honour.

"Since Muhyiddin also announced that he was open to being investigated, the police and MACC should proceed to investigate such cases that have been backlogged. I have heard allegations that there are many,” he added.