Zahid's DNAA improves Perikatan's chances in Pulai, says its candidate

Perikatan Nasional’s Pulai by-election candidate Zulkilfli Jaafar believes that the recent decision by the High Court to grant Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) will work in his favor. Zulkilfli expressed his happiness upon hearing the news that the Umno president had received a DNAA on his 47 graft charges. He is confident that this decision will gain him more support from the voters in Pulai.

The High Court granted Ahmad Zahid a DNAA for his 47 graft charges filed against him by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), related to the alleged misuse of funds from his charitable foundation, Yayasan Akal Budi (YAB). In the judge’s ruling, Justice Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah considered the arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense teams before making the decision. The prosecution argued that the investigation is still ongoing due to representations made by the defense, and therefore, it is justified for the prosecution to examine these representations and take statements from various individuals.

The prosecution had initially requested for Ahmad Zahid to be discharged but not acquitted, as further investigations are still needed. Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar provided 11 reasons for this action, including ensuring that no miscarriage of justice occurred and allowing for more comprehensive investigations by the authorities. He also mentioned that the defense had submitted several representations to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) in the past, and the DNAA decision was influenced by the existence of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) formed to investigate claims made in former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas’ controversial memoir, particularly regarding alleged selective prosecution.