KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has taken a swipe at all the expressions of shock issued by various quarters over Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s acquittal of corruption charges.
Taking to twitter, the former prime minister posted:
“Hari ini hari apa? Hari terkejut?” (What day is it today? A shocking day?)
The posting was an apparent jibe at how not only the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) but the Prime Minister as well as various Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and others had expressed shock over the Penang High Court’s decision to acquit Lim, and businesswoman Phang Li Koon on corruption charges.
High Court judge Justice Hadhariah Syed Ismail acquitted both accused and decided the charges be dropped despite the prosecution only proposing a discharge not amounting to an acquittal.
Responding to the decision, the country’s graft-busting body said it was shocked by the decision.
Aside from the MACC and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Lim's lawyer Ramkarpal Singh also expressed shock, albeit over the MACC's reaction to the acquittal.
“I am shocked that the MACC is shocked over the decision. They (MACC) obviously have knowledge and been informed that the charges will be withdrawn, as the entire process involves the MACC,” Ramkarpal said in a statement.