Cases involving political leaders may reach the same settlement as Riza's, say Pakatan leaders

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan has expressed concern that similar deals would be struck in criminal cases involving political leaders following the recent move to let off Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz over money laundering charges.

"We are of the view that the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case linked to Riza Aziz, who was let off with a discharge not amounting to an acquittal, is a sign that several other big cases involving political leaders would also reach the same settlement," according to a joint statement issued by Pakatan top leaders on Sunday (May 17).

Riza Aziz, the stepson of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Sessions Court on May 14 over five counts of money laundering charges involving US$248mil (RM1.25bil) linked to 1MDB.

The issue was among several matters discussed by the Pakatan leaders at a meeting in response to the one-day Parliament sitting schedule for Monday (May 18).

The Pakatan leaders also vowed to step up effort to return the mandate to the people by taking over the present government which they claimed lacked the legitimacy owing Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's alleged failure to test his support among lawmakers in Parliament on Monday.

Also raised at the meeting were concerns over the recent appointment of several Members of Parliaments to hold positions in government-linked companies as well as envoys with similar status as ministers.

"This is a bad practice and destroys the reform efforts which were initiated 22 months ago," said the statement.

The Pakatan leaders had also discussed the issue over the setting up of several new ministries whose allocations have yet to be tabled and passed by Parliament as required.

"We had also agreed that the RM260bil stimulus package announced by Muhyiddin has yet to be tabled and passed by Parliament.

"Members of Parliament must be given the opportunity to debate the stimulus package to ensure that there are no leakages when providing aid to the rakyat," the statement read.

The Pakatan leaders also voiced their dissatisfaction at the government's decision for Parliament to sit for only a day to listen to the royal address.

The joint statement was signed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his capacity as Pakatan chairman and Opposition chief, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and Parti Warisan Sabah president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.