Malaysian ex-deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi detained over alleged misappropriation of funds
Opposition leader is the latest high-profile figure in Malaysian politics to face corruption charges after former prime minister Najib Razak and his wife
Malaysia’s opposition leader was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of corruption, a fresh blow to his party which was ousted at elections this year after six decades in power.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a former deputy premier and ally of scandal-mired ex-leader Najib Razak, was detained after being questioned by anti-corruption authorities. He will be charged on Friday.
He is head of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the linchpin in a coalition of parties that ruled Malaysia from independence in 1957 until their shock defeat in May polls.
The UMNO has been on the ropes since, with many coalition partners abandoning a party that had become synonymous with widespread corruption, divisive racial politics and a rotten ruling elite.
Najib has also been arrested and charged over allegations he oversaw the plundering of state fund 1MDB, a scandal that played a major part in the election defeat.
Ahmad Zahid was arrested in “relation to an investigation into abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering”, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission said.