KUALA LUMPUR – Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has expressed concern over the dismissal of corruption cases in Malaysian courts, suggesting that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had set a “clear precedent”.
Syed Saddiq's remarks come in the wake of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) withdrawing 47 corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
This decision resulted in the Kuala Lumpur High Court granting Zahid a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA), leaving the possibility open for him to be recharged in the future.
The Muar MP took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to say that such actions might make the attorney-general (AG) – appointed by the prime minister – a scapegoat in cases of corruption charges being dropped.
He warned that this could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
Syed Saddiq argued that future prime ministers might do the same, potentially undermining the integrity of the legal system.
“Time will tell,” he remarked, suggesting that the consequences of such actions could manifest in the years to come.
In response to the growing concerns, Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that he had not discussed the AG's decision but had sought justification and clarification for it.
Following the DNAA, the discussion over the separation of roles and powers between the attorney-general and the public prosecutor has gained momentum.
Law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had previously said that two special task forces would be formed to expedite this process.
Azalina noted that the government is committed to implementing reforms in this area and that one task force would be responsible for conducting comparative research, while the other would focus on the technical aspects of the separation of roles.
The technical task force aims to prepare an interim report based on comprehensive empirical research within a one-year timeframe for the cabinet's consideration. – The Vibes, September 20, 2023
