Worsening confidence crisis in Unity government - Pas

ALOR SETAR - The Unity Government led by Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) is allegedly facing a crisis of confidence, and it is getting worse.

Central Pas Ulama Council (DUPP) chief Datuk Ahmad Yahaya claimed that this is proven through the release of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi without acquittal while holding the position of Deputy Prime Minister.

What was worse was when Zahid, who is currently the country's number two leader, was appointed under PH's leadership and used to loudly chant the slogan battling corruption, he said.

"The question that I'd like to raise is, do they think that the people today are too naive to accept the reality that Zahid's case was withdrawn by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) itself without any 'invisible hand'? he told Sinar Harian today.

Ahmad pointed out that ever since Anwar appointed Zahid as Deputy Prime Minister, there has been a growing concern that the second-highest post in the government might serve as a barrier in handling the 47 misconduct cases involving Zahid.

"It turned out that the assumption is true. Ahmad Zahid was released without acquittal after the trial of the case in November 2019, after 77 days of the prosecution process and after 114 witnesses were called to testify.

"He was finally released without acquittal after the court decided that his case was prima facie," he added.

The Kedah Pas commissioner perceived Zahid's presence in Putrajaya as a mistake and a disaster for the country.

"From the beginning, we were warned about the possibility of this happening. Not because we want to be ahead of the court's decision, but because we are worried that it will interfere with the transparency of the trial process in his corruption cases," he said.

According to him, the cases had gone through a self-defence phase but were delayed for various unreasonable reasons.

"It started with Ahmad Zahid's passport being resubmitted permanently last March. Then, the representation process resumed and now ends with discharge without acquittal (DNAA).

"While he is not entirely free, let's think: after all the loads of proof have been presented to confirm the existence of a prima facie case, will the public prosecutor bring another piece of evidence on these charges? This is not possible," he explained.

Ahmad concluded that that is the expected 'script'.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court last Monday released Zahid on 47 charges of breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering against the Akalbudi Foundation, which he himself founded.

Judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah made the decision after accepting an appeal by Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar, who informed that the Attorney General's Chambers wished to stop all proceedings against Zahid at this stage.

The prosecution presented 11 reasons for the appeal to the court.