KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat will get to debate Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s release from graft charges when the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Institutional Reform tables its report.
As such, the best course of action for now would be to wait for the committee to do its job, said Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications and Digital Minister was responding to criticisms after Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul rejected a motion to debate Ahmad Zahid’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in the Yayasan Akalbudi trial.
Fahmi pointed out that the PSSC was the best platform for MPs on both sides to get the most detailed and accurate information.
“The committee comprises MPs from all sides, including those from Perikatan Nasional like Arau (Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim), Jeli (Zahari Kechik) and Besut (Datuk Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh). The current and former attorneys general will also be called in.
“Since this process involves Parliament, I believe it is the best platform because the select committee is the place for us to get the most detailed information.
“I hope everyone who wants an explanation will wait for the select committee to perform its duty.
“The committee will table its report to the Dewan Rakyat and when the report is published, we can debate it.
“I only ask everyone to be patient for a while,” he told reporters when met at the Rapid KL’s “Cerita Malaysiaku” special coach programme at the KLCC LRT station yesterday.
Fahmi said that, as a bipartisan body, the PSSC had been a huge help in law creation such as the anti-party hopping law and GEG Bill to end the sale of cigarettes to minors.
“We trust the process and leave it to the process. Eventually, we will get the report and it will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
It has been reported that the AG will be called before the PSSC to explain the decision to apply to drop the corruption charges against Ahmad Zahid.
In Singapore, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision had been made by the AG who was appointed by his predecessor.
“It was about his conscience. I asked him if he could support it and he said there were 11 facts to be used in court and for the judge to decide,” he said.
The Prime Minister said he would not concede or compromise in his fight against corruption, despite the negative perception after the DNAA was granted.
He acknowledged that the perception was not good, especially after the earlier 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.
Speaking at the 10th Annual Asia Summit, he admitted that it would take time to eradicate the problem of corruption, which he described as endemic and systemic.
The High Court recently granted the Deputy Prime Minister a DNAA on 12 criminal breach of trust charges, eight counts of bribery and 27 for money laundering, involving millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akal Budi.
