Tuesday, September 05, 2023

In tit-for-tat, Umno Youth demands ex-AG explain Guan Eng’s acquittal


FMT:

In tit-for-tat, Umno Youth demands ex-AG explain Guan Eng’s acquittal


The wing’s chief, Dr Akmal Saleh, says Tommy Thomas must do so in the ‘interest of fairness’ amid calls for an explanation on Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s DNAA.



Dr Akmal Saleh also called for Tommy Thomas to clear the air over the authenticity of a purported leaked internal memo suggesting that the Attorney-General’s Chambers drop a 1MDB case involving former prime minister Najib Razak. (Facebook pic)


PETALING JAYA: Former attorney-general (AG) Tommy Thomas must explain the decision to drop corruption charges against DAP’s Lim Guan Eng, says Umno Youth.

The wing’s chief, Dr Akmal Saleh, made the demand in an apparent tit-for-tat move over similar calls by some quarters, including DAP, for AG Idrus Harun to do likewise in Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s case.

Akmal said Thomas must explain why he decided to drop charges against the then finance minister of corruption charges in 2018 over the purchase of a bungalow at allegedly below market price.

“In the interest of fairness, I would not only urge Idrus Harun to provide an explanation (over Zahid’s case), but also for Tommy Thomas to explain his decision to free Lim.

“Thomas must also clarify what he meant in his memoir that he was directly involved in coordinating the prosecution against several politicians during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s second stint as prime minister,” he said in a statement.

Akmal also called for Thomas to clear the air over the authenticity of a purported leaked internal memo suggesting that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) drop a 1MDB case involving former prime minister Najib Razak.

“If there is any wrongdoing or selective prosecution that took place then action must be taken so it will serve as a lesson to leaders not to abuse their powers,” he said.

Earlier today, DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook urged Idrus to explain the factors behind the decision to seek a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) for Zahid.

Loke said such an explanation from the outgoing AG was crucial to safeguard the public’s confidence in Malaysia’s legal system.

Zahid, who is the Umno president, had been accused of embezzling millions of ringgit from Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister between 2013 and 2018.

The court decision led to brickbats from Perikatan Nasional leaders, and former Bersih chairmen Maria Chin Abdullah and Ambiga Sreenevasan.


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