The judiciary should not be used as a political tool, says Saarani

IPOH: The judiciary must not be used as a political tool, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Following the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision to grant Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), the Perak Umno liaison chairman said the judiciary institution had always been the backbone of a just and orderly system and it needed to be defended from being used as a political tool.

“Taking into account the 11 reasons for stopping the prosecution of all those charges (against Ahmad Zahid), it is time for the credibility of the legislation institution, including the Attorney General’s Chamber (AGC) and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to be clarified.

“Perak Umno is of the opinion that the unity government needs to set an example by giving complete independence to the legal institutions to uphold justice so that this dark episode of political prosecution will not recur,” he said in a statement on Monday (Sept 4).

Earlier on Monday (Sept 4), the Deputy Prime Minister was granted a DNAA for all 47 graft charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi funds by the High Court.

The prosecution had earlier applied for the Umno president to be discharged but not acquitted as further investigations were still needed for the case.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Datuk Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar listed 11 reasons for it; which included ensuring no miscarriage of justice was committed and to make way for more comprehensive investigations by the authorities.