MIRI – Pakatan Harapan (PH) and its component PKR will have to go to the ground immediately to explain the latest court decisions that freed Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sabah politician Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin from their many corruption charges.
This was declared yesterday by Abun Sui Anyit, who is also Sarawak PH information chief and Sarawak PKR deputy chairman.
Abun Sui told The Vibes that Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders are already having a field day mocking, criticising and blaming PH leaders and the unity government for the Kuala Lumpur High Court and the attorney-general’s decisions on Zahid, and the same court’s decision on Bung and his wife Datin Seri Zizie Izette Abdul Samad.
“The PN politicians have seized the opportunity from the latest court cases involving Zahid and Bung...(turning them) into heavy political ammunition against the unity government, against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, against PH, and against PKR.
“They are accusing us of political interference. They are turning these court cases into very political matters.
“PH component parties, as a group and as individual parties, must go to the ground and counter these accusations.
“We in Sarawak PH and Sarawak PKR will reach out to the public to explain.
“We need to make it clear to the public that the latest court cases are decisions made independently by the courts and by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), and not by any political person or entities in the unity government,” he said.
Abun Sui, who is a Miri-based lawyer, said a proper public explanation is needed to prevent backlash from grassroots voters, who may not understand the court decisions.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal over money laundering cases, and had a total of 47 cases against him dropped from further prosecution.
Bung, who is Kinabatangan MP and former Felcra chairman, and his wife were discharged and acquitted of bribery charges involving some RM150 million.
Many quarters, including civil society groups, legal bodies not linked to political groups, human rights groups and professional organisations, have slammed the latest decisions to drop the cases without going further into the trial processes.
Case polarising among Umno factions?
Meanwhile, former PKR senator Yusmadi Yusoff urged people not to get carried away with the contentious decision by the AGC on the discharge from the 47 graft-related charges.
“If he (Zahid) is guilty, people will react and if the charges are dropped, people will also react. We must focus on what counts to the voters and the country: our economy.”
The former PKR international affairs bureau member said that Zahid’s case is more riveting internally within Umno, as there are factions who want him out, while another wants him to stay.
He called on the government to not be distracted by the noise of discontent and focus on what is relevant to the people now.
“Personalities are not going to resolve our woes but sound policies and key institutions have the means to do it.
“One person can inspire but to change a nation...we need a movement,” he said.
“I do not think the outcome of court cases have too much impact on elections.
Yes, there were some cases, but overall, voters are preoccupied with bread-and-butter issues and how they can survive in a post-pandemic era, which is getting increasingly tougher.”
Issues of rising living costs, stagnant wages and growing divide between the rich and the poor are key public concerns.
“The root need is the economy, so all efforts must be channelled into reforms there so that it can return to a path where all segments of society can prosper or at least earn a decent living,” he said.
He also said that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim needs to distinguish being a politician from being a statesman.
“A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation,” he said. “We must bury our past to move on to the future.” – The Vibes, September 9, 2023
Additional reporting by Ian McIntyre
