KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to answer all queries over the discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) given to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow.
Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said the prime minister would do so during his winding-up session for the 12th Malaysian Plan (12MP) mid-term review.
"Will the prime minister answer? He is here and he gave the nod, which means he will answer.
"God willing (the session will be) between 2.30pm to 3.30pm tomorrow," she said in the august house today.
Azalina said this in response to a question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Perikatan Nasional-Kota Baru) on whether Anwar would answer questions from members of parliament (MP) regarding the Zahid's DNAA in court.
On Friday, Anwar had said that he might answer questions with regards to Zahid's discharge in parliament.
When speaking to reporters, the prime minister briefly said: "Maybe, InsyaAllah (If God wills it)." .
This comes after a government backbencher, Hassan Abdul Karim (Pakatan Harapan-Pasir Gudang) told the Dewan Rakyat last week that MPs should be allowed to ask questions about Zahid's DNAA during the Prime Minister's Question Time (PMQT).
The following is the chronology of Zahid's court cases involving Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) funds that led to the High Court's decision on Sept 4 which granted him a DNAA on 47 charges.
July 3, 2018 - Zahid had his statement recorded at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Headquarters to assist in the YAB investigation.
Oct 18, 2018 - MACC detained Zahid after obtaining clearance from the Attorney-General's Chambers to charge him.
Oct 19, 2018 - Zahid was charged for the first time at the Sessions Court with 10 criminal breach of trust (CBT) and eight corruption charges involving RM42,083,132.99 and 27 charges of money laundering involving RM72,063,618.15.
Dec 14, 2018 - Zahid was charged for the second time at the same court with another charge of CBT involving RM10mil of YAB funds.
Feb 20, 2019 - Zahid was charged for the third time at the same court with yet another charge of CBT involving RM260,000 belonging to YAB.
Feb 28, 2019 - The Sessions Court transferred all of Zahid's cases to the High Court following a request by the defence team.
May 14, 2019 - The Court of Appeal dismissed Zahid's appeal to have his impounded passport returned to perform Umrah.
May 24, 2019 - The Federal Court also dismissed his appeal to get his passport returned to perform Umrah.
Nov 18, 2019 - Zahid's trial began before Judge Collin Sequerah.
March 3, 2020 - The High Court dismissed the prosecution's application to initiate contempt of court proceedings after Zahid made a public apology.
March 19, 2021 - The prosecution closed its case after 53 days of trial and hearing statements from 99 witnesses.
Aug 24, 2021 - The High Court subpoenaed a specialist doctor from a private hospital to explain Zahid's condition after he failed to attend the trial. Zahid was reported to have been admitted to the hospital after a fall.
Aug 25, 2021 - The specialist doctor informed the court that it was "possible" for Zahid to attend the trial on Sept 6.
Sept 6, 2021 - Submissions at the end of the prosecution's case began. Zahid was present at the court wearing a neck brace.
Oct 7, 2021 - Zahid applied to have his impounded passport returned to enable him to seek medical treatment for his back and neck pain in Germany.
Oct 11, 2021 - The High Court granted Zahid's application to have his passport returned to seek treatment in Germany.
Dec 6, 2021 - Judge Sequerah set Jan 24 to decide on the prosecution's case.
Jan 24, 2022 - Zahid was ordered to enter his defence against all 47 corruption charges after the court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against him on all 12 CBT, eight corruption and 27 money laundering charges.
Dec 8, 2022 - Zahid submitted the first representation to the Attorney General's Office (AGC).
Aug 21, 2023 - Prominent businessman, Datuk Seri Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, commonly known as 'Datuk K', took to the witness stand for the defence in Zahid's corruption trial.
Aug 24, 2023 - Zahid urged the AGC to expedite its decision on whether to continue the corruption case involving him.
Sept 4, 2023 - The High Court granted Zahid a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) of 12 CBT charges, eight counts of bribery and 27 for money laundering, involving scores of millions of ringgit belonging to the YAB.
Sept 12, 2023 - The Special Select Committee on Institutional Reform will call in the Attorney-General in the upcoming sitting of the Dewan Rakyat in October to clear the air on its decision.
Sept 14, 2023 - Former Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali said calling the current and former attorneys general (A-G) to clarify the DNAA would create an unhealthy precedent and open floodgates for the A-G to explain his exercise of the prosecutorial discretion.
Sept 18, 2023 - Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will answer all queries on Zahid's DNAA during his winding-up session for the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) mid-term review on Tuesday (Sept 19).