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KUALA LUMPUR – Freeing the court cluster from Umno has not been part of the agreement of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) – Barisan Nasional (BN) unity government, former PKR information chief Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin reportedly said.
In an article by Malay daily Sinar Harian, the former MP reportedly said that the matter was never discussed by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and BN’s leadership during their meetings, including the recently-concluded one on Tuesday.
He stressed that BN had never put in any conditions to drop charges against Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in order to obtain the support of the coalition’s 30 federal lawmakers for Anwar as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister.
Furthermore, he pointed out that if the executive body formed after the unity government has been forged had interfered in the judicial process, it will tarnish PH’s image itself.
Therefore, Shamsul gave assurances that as part of the unity administration, PH will not interfere in the judicial process.
“I believe under Anwar’s leadership as prime minister; he will not interfere not only in cases involving the Umno president but also with other PH leaders such as Lim Guan Eng (DAP chairman) and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
“Let Guan Eng, Syed Saddiq or any PH leaders being charged in court clear their own names by allowing the court process to complete,” he reportedly said.
Shamsul also stressed that PH will ensure that those facing charges will be trialled in a fair and just manner, free from any political interference.
He then shared his own experience in court, charged for attending a peaceful rally, even though he was the primary industries deputy minister back in 2018.
“I never asked for my case to be dropped, even though PH held the reins of Putrajaya in 2018 and I was forced to take leave to attend my court case.
“Thus, I am confident that there is neither a verbal nor written agreement to free Umno or PH leaders from their court cases once we have forged a unity government soon,” Shamsul reportedly said. – The Vibes, November 24, 2022