Ramkarpal Singh
The decision by the Attorney General’s Chambers to take no further action in respect of the 47 charges for which Deputy PM Zahid Hamidi was charged, does not inspire confidence and raises questions over the transparency of investigations into the matter by the chambers.
In a statement, the chambers attributed the decision to a comprehensive review of the material before it, although no mention was made whether it had reviewed the prima facie findings of the High Court in 2022.
With respect, it must be stressed that this is not a case in which no findings were made.
It is common knowledge that the High Court had found a prima facie case against Zahid at the end of the prosecution’s case in 2022 after the trial had commenced some four years earlier in 2019, with many witnesses having given evidence on behalf of the prosecution.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
As such, there can be no doubt that such findings were based on evidence which Zahid was, in law, obliged to rebut – until the prosecution applied for an order of discharge not amounting to acquittal from all the 47 charges on 4 September 2023.
The Attorney General’s Chambers’ statement clearly lacks substance and amounts to a mere general statement that it is now satisfied that the matter ought not to be proceeded with.
Given the above, the chambers must explain why it is now of the view that the prima facie findings of the High Court against Zahid do not carry weight, especially when those findings were based on its own evidence led in court.
With respect, a failure by the chambers to provide a satisfactory explanation will be likely to further erode confidence in it, which is ill-advised.
Ramkarpal Singh is the MP for Bukit Gelugor.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
