THE age-old adage that ‘he who laughs last, laughs the loudest’ is seemingly holding true to both the Perikatan Nasional (PN) by-election candidates for the Simpang Jeram state and Pulai parliamentary seats.
There is no need for rocket science for the plain and simple message to cascade down the message that the reformist government of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is merely “a hypocrite” after Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi obtained a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) from the Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday (Sept 4).
While the DNAA related to the Yayasan Akalbudi case can be a personal victory to the UMNO president, its inauspicious timing given both by-elections are barely four days away (Sept 9) will only provide ‘free’ ammunition to the green wave proponents to deliver what might be perceived as “killer blow” to the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional (PH-BN) alliance.
Worse still, the DNAA accorded to the BN chairman will only make his PN counterpart Tan Sri Muhyidin Yassin “more dignified than ever” for the latter obtained unconditional acquittal over charges that are deemed to be “defective legally and lacking details”.
Recall that the 76-year-old Bersatu president had on Aug 15 been acquitted by the Kuala Lumpur High Court of four corruption charges of abusing his power to obtain RM232.5 mil in bribes for his party.
This came about just days after his opposition bloc expanded its influence in the Aug 12 six state polls (he nevertheless still faces three charges of money laundering involving RM200 mil).
Surely, it wouldn’t be a difficult for PN to portray Muhyiddin’s heroics or simply painting a perception that can resonate with grassroots supporters of both PAS and Bersatu.
In fact, the remarks by judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that a substantial amount of taxpayers’ money would have been wasted if the prosecution chose to drop Zahid’s case after prima facie against him has been established, can easily be capitalised by PN to claim that the unity government has not been serious in declaring a war against corruption.
In fact, the remarks by judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that a substantial amount of taxpayers’ money would have been wasted if the prosecution chose to drop the charges against Zahid’s after a prima facie case against him has been established, can easily be capitalised by PN to claim that the unity government has not been serious in declaring a war against corruption.
“So, the all-out fight against graft is hypocritical at best … it is (also) so co-incidental that the DNAA came after the lead deputy public prosecutor (DPP) is replaced and soon after the AG’s (former attorney-general Tan Sri Idris Harun) retirement,” Simpang Jeram candidate from PAS Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya pointed out in a podcast interview hosted by the party’s national youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
“So, assuming that you loyally backed PMX (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) as PM and fight by his side for 20 years, then our entire struggle is futile … all reforms mentioned by PMX prior to being appointed PM are in vain.”
The vascular surgeon further expects the DNAA outcome to render positive image to PN in the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections “given that the person who was at the forefront to oppose 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd) and was later sacked by (by now incarcerated former premier DS Najib Razak) is none other than TS Muhyiddin”.
“We (PN) are also not compromising from that angle whereby we don’t appoint anyone to hold a post in the government (whether at federal or state levels) if they are implicated in court cases and at the same time, we would never interfere in any judicial matter until the verdict is reached,” he added. – Sept 5, 2023
