KUALA LUMPUR: More than 100 people gathered as early as 6.30am at the Jalan Duta Courts Complex here to show support for Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Clad in red shirts, T-shirts and baju kurung, they lined the road leading to the courthouse and before the complex’s main entrance, singing and carrying banners.
At about 8.45am, the main entrance and road leading to the courthouse were closed, with policemen guarding the entrance.
Dr Ahmad Zahid arrived at 8.15am accompanied by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers and policemen to face the charges against him at the Sessions Court.
Among those present at the courthouse lobby were Umno deputy president Datuk Mohamad Hasan, vice-president and Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, party supreme council members Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Tan Sri Noh Omar, and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin.
About an hour later, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak reached the court complex in a white Toyota Vellfire.
At 9.50am, Najib returned to the MPV waiting for him at the lobby area.
Reporters rushed to him to ask why he was present, to which Najib replied: “I am here to give support to my old friend.”
Ismail Sabri said the person charged was the Umno president and as such, it was their responsibility as party members was to show their support.
Asked whether the prosecution of Dr Ahmad Zahid had affected their morale, he said: “I feel it does not affect our spirit, rather, it has lifted us as we regard these charges to be selective and political persecution to weaken the party.”
At a press conference later, Dr Ahmad Zahid said he would defend himself against all charges slapped on him. He said he would explain and prove in court on the charity work that he had done including the building of surau, tahfiz, mosques and orphanages.
“I feel that all the charity work that I have done is now regarded as a breach of the law,” he said.
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