Zahid's passport return feared to give negative perception

SHAH ALAM - The permanent return of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's passports is feared to create a negative perception of the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) as being double standard.

Lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla said the decision by the Court of Appeal yesterday would seem to suggest there are two separate sets of laws: one for ordinary people and another for political leaders, particularly those in government.

"As known, the application to get the passport back permanently was rejected by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Feb 3; however, (yesterday) the media reported that the deputy public prosecutor did not object to the application.

"The question is, why didn't the public prosecutor object to it when the application was filed on Feb 3? Zahid was already the deputy prime minister during these two periods.

"Without knowing the correct and transparent reasons for this, the people would have a negative perception of the AGC," he said in a Facebook post earlier.

On Feb 27, the Court of Appeal granted Zahid's appeal to have his passports permanently returned to enable him to travel internationally for official duties.

The decision was unanimously made by a three-member panel led by Judge Datuk Hanipah Farikullah.

Haniff also questioned Zahid's competence in carrying out his duties as a minister.

"How can he focus on his duties efficiently considering he has other commitments like attending court when needed," he added.