KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has submitted an emergency motion for Parliament to hold a special sitting for the attorney-general (AG) to explain Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s conditional discharge from his corruption trial.
Wan Fayhsal, who is also Machang MP, said in a Facebook post today that he had submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul the motion calling for Parliament’s sitting on September 11 to be postponed to make way for explanations by the AG.
“This motion is important and holds public interest for the sake of protecting the integrity of the federal government and the rule of law.”
In the motion submitted to the speaker, Wan Fayhsal said that since the matter involves the image and credibility of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), an explanation from the AG will reduce public dispute over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) granted to Zahid.
He also said that all MPs have a right to know the details and reasonings behind the AG’s decision to request for the DNAA, especially since the prosecution team had already proven a prima facie case against Zahid.
Previously, the AGC said that the application for the DNAA for criminal charges against Zahid was made to the court for reasons that were accepted by the high court.
“In making this decision, the honourable judge stated that the reasons presented by the prosecution are cogent,” the AGC said in a brief statement issued on Tuesday.
The statement came in the wake of public criticism against Zahid’s DNAA, with activists as well as party leaders from the unity government and the opposition calling for an explanation from the AG.
The Malaysian Bar had also said that the AGC’s statement on the matter was “completely devoid of proper justifications” regarding why it had requested for a DNAA.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has since said that former AG Tan Sri Idrus Harun decided to submit the DNAA application after reviewing the representation letter submitted by Zahid’s lawyers.
On Monday, Zahid was granted a DNAA on all 47 of his corruption, criminal breach of trust (CBT), and money laundering charges involving his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi.
He was also charged with accepting bribes when he was the home minister between 2013 and 2018. – September 8, 2023