PASIR GUDANG: The unity government's good image has been shaken by the bid to seek a royal pardon for jailed former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the representation to drop graft charges faced by Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, says a Pakatan Harapan MP.
Either one or both succeeding could spell disaster for the unity government in the upcoming six state elections, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim.
ALSO READ: Najib’s pardon may cut both ways, say analysts
“The Prime Minister should be reminded that Pakatan and PKR will be rejected by the people in the coming state elections.
“(The same would happen) in the 16th General Election, (Pakatan will) end up losing along with Barisan Nasional and Umno. Just don’t say I didn't warn you,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 11).
Najib is seeking a royal pardon for his 12-year prison term and RM210mil fine in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
ALSO READ: Royal pardon bid won't affect unity govt ties, says Umno supreme council member
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid has sent a representation to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to have 47 charges involving criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering in the Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) case dropped.
Furthermore, Hassan noted, developments in the YAB case at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday (April 10) showed that the prosecution and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are aligned in the decision not to object to a request for postponement of the trial while the representation is being studied by the AGC.
This meant that Ahmad Zahid's case, which was to resume in April, has now been postponed to August.
ALSO READ: Zahid seeks to have YAB charges dropped, trial postponed to Aug 1
“The main reason was to wait for the Attorney General's (AG) decision on whether or not the 47 charges should be dropped," Hassan said, adding that the development was unsettling.
He described the near-absolute powers of the AG under Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution as alarming to anyone who upholds justice, transparency and the truth.
Article 145(3) states that the AG shall have the power at his discretion to initiate, conduct, or stop any proceedings for an offence in a civil court, he said.
