KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes the Special Select Committee on Human Rights, Elections and Institutional Reform is able to clarify his discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA) ruling in the Yayasan Akal Budi misappropriation of funds case.
The deputy prime minister said he would let the select committee, chaired by William Leong Jee Keen, which had proposed such proceedings to be conducted, to do the needful.
"I leave it up to the committee to take steps towards clarifying the issue," he said briefly after the Halal Sector Forum 2023 at MITEC today.
Zahid's DNAA had drawn criticisms from many, including Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, whose party had withdrawn from the unity government.
Asked about Syed Saddiq's party which had quit because of him, Zahid said,"That is his matter."
Yesterday, Leong said apart from Zahid's case, it also wanted to discuss the cancellation of the notice of appeal by the Court of Appeal against the 1MDB report tampering case.
The committee also proposed proceedings to include the cancellation of charges by the High Court against former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin involving four predicate charges under Section 23 of the MACC Act.
Leong said proceedings to review amendments to the Federal Constitution on the separation of powers of the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC) and the public prosecutor's office would also be held.
The recent cases of several leaders discharged of corruption charges gave a negative perception that there was indeed an interference in the AGC by certain parties, said Leong.
On Sept 4, Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, was granted by the High Court a DNAA of 12 criminal breach of trust charges, eight counts of bribery and 27 for money laundering, involving millions of ringgit belonging to the foundation.
He was accused of committing the offences between March 28, 2016, and April 11, 2018. He was charged on Oct 19, 2018, and was later ordered to enter his defence.
When the court grants a DNAA, it means that the accused is discharged from the current charges without being acquitted of the charges.
The case is temporarily put on hold or suspended, but the prosecution has the option to refile the charges or reinstate the case at a later time if new evidence or circumstances warrant it.