KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has not ruled out the possibility of explaining his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for all 47 graft charges involving RM31 million of Yayasan Akalbudi funds, in the Dewan Rakyat.
The prime minister was asked if he was ready to give an explanation about the DNAA while at the Kompleks Nasyrul Quran in Putrajaya yesterday, Utusan Malaysia reported.
“Maybe, Insya Allah,” he was quoted as telling reporters.
Several MPs have called for the attorney general to provide an open explanation of Zahid’s discharge to dispel public perception of government interference in high-profile trials.
Backbencher Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim had called on the prime minister to explain Zahid's DNAA in Parliament directly instead of having statements published in media reports.
Several Opposition MPs have accused the government of meddling to enable selective prosecution.
But Anwar had previously said that he had never interfered with Zahid's court cases.
Anwar also had rubbished allegations that he had instructed Tan Sri Idrus Harun who was the attorney general then, to discontinue prosecution against Zahid.
Zahid, accused of dishonestly misappropriating RM31 million from the charitable organisation he founded, was granted a DNAA by the High Court on September 8.
A DNAA means he has not been cleared of the accusations and can be tried on the same charges again.