Zahid's case not first time a DNAA was granted - Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today clarified that he did not intervene in the decision to grant a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Prime Minister said that the decision was made by the then attorney-general Tan Sri Idrus Harun in accordance with Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution, whereby it is the authority of the Attorney-General to exercise his discretion to institute, conduct or discontinue any court proceedings.

Anwar clarified the matter when winding up the debate on the motion on the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review (12MP MTR) in the Dewan Rakyat, today. The issue of Zahid's DNAA was raised by several MPs when debating the motion.

He said the DNAA given in Zahid was not the first time that a charge was dropped after a prima facie case had been proven, citing the Kim Jong Nam murder case involving the Public Prosecutor and Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong.

"Those on the other side (the Opposition) also had prima facie cases but they were thrown out, DNAA, then there was the case of Siti Aisyah. The Attorney-General's decision is his discretion, but why make reckless and impolite accusations against the prime minister and think that I interfered? What evidence is there that I had interfered?

MORE TO COME

- BERNAMA