PETALING JAYA – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has emphasised that he never intervened and gave instructions to former attorney-general Tan Sri Idrus Harun in the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) of his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The prime minister said that if he had the power to delay the court's decision, he could have ordered the release to be made only after all the state elections had been completed.
“But I want to clarify that there was no instruction to (then) attorney-general (Tan Sri) Idrus (Harun),” he said.
Idris’ term expired on September 5.
“He (Idris) was involved in continuing the prosecution. And then he read a leaked document written by the AGC (Attorney General’s Office) which stated that (he) had not agreed to the prosecution.
“Some new facts (as thick as) 200 pages were presented. Of course, I, as the prime minister, know the impact of the accusations that were thrown.
“I had to ask the AG at length why the decision was like that. Why now?”
Anwar was referring to a document from the AGC that had gotten leaked. It purportedly reflected the Idrus’ stance to oppose the charges at an early stage of the case.
He added that he does not blame the public who demand a bigger explanation about the decision.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court had on September 4 decided to grant the DNAA to Zahid on all 47 of his corruption, criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering charges in his Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) case.
Zahid, 70, who is also Umno president, faced 12 charges on criminal breach of trust, eight on corruption and 27 on money laundering involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to YAB.
Speaking to reporters after mid-day prayers at Masjid Jamek Sri Petaling here today, Anwar claimed that although the judiciary is subject to prosecution procedures, the judge still has discretion.
He stressed that he is not sharing what he would do if he were the attorney-general but clarifying that his government has not abandoned the principles of reform.
"I do not have a view of the AG and I also avoid it… this one-sided accusation that Anwar's government has abandoned reform, this is not correct.
"As I have mentioned repeatedly, I can check with the AG then and now. However, can I check with the chief justice on what case I should intervene in? But when it comes to a certain figure, it becomes an issue.
"The general public has the right to know and the answer lies in reading the verdict in full... But don't slander. Don't say this was the prime minister's directive and so on," he said.
Anwar stressed that even if he had the power to postpone the decision, it would be unlikely that he would do so.
He said the attorney-general knew that the decision was to be delivered on September 4, a day before his last day in office.
Idrus was thus carrying out his responsibilities which he did not want to leave behind for others to manage, he said.
"Do not pay heed to the allegations of these politicians… I recommend that you read the AG’s reasoning to the judge and why the judge then agreed… Some people are saying that the judge had no choice. That is not true," he said. – The Vibes, September 8, 2023
