Malaysia’s Anwar vows no let-up on anti-corruption drive amid outcry over ally’s discharge

The decision to drop corruption charges against Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi sparked criticism that the move is a betrayal of Anwar’s reform agenda

Anwar says corruption is ‘endemic’ but stresses that Malaysia’s anti-graft agency has not found a single corruption case linked to any government leader since November

3-MIN READ3-MIN

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks during a session at the Milken Institute’s 10th Asia Summit in Singapore on Wednesday. Photo: Prime Minister’s Office of Malaysia

Published: 8:00pm, 13 Sep 2023

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday said he was committed to his pledge to weed out corruption, amid an ongoing outcry over the public prosecutor’s decision to drop dozens of corruption charges against a key ally in his unity government.

Last week, the High Court approved an application by the attorney-general’s chambers to discharge Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from 47 charges of corruption linked to a charity foundation that he had established, sparking criticism that the move was a betrayal of Anwar’s reform agenda.

Opposition politicians are planning a public rally on Saturday to protest against the decision.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid leaves the High Court after the court dismissed 47 corruption charges against him. Photo: dpa

Anwar said the decision was made solely by former attorney-general Idrus Harun, who he said had told him ahead of his retirement that there was sufficient evidence to disprove the charges levied against Ahmad Zahid.

“He said: ‘Sir, this is an issue of my conscience’, and he gave me the facts,” Anwar said during a plenary session at the Milken Institute’s 10th Asia Summit in Singapore.

“I said, ‘Can you support this?’ He said yes, with 11 facts to be adduced in court and for the judge to decide,” he said, adding that the charges were rushed by his predecessor and long-time rival, Mahathir Mohamad, after Ahmad Zahid refused to dissolve his former ruling Umno party and join Mahathir’s then-party Bersatu.

Ahmad Zahid was among a clutch of senior Umno leaders charged with corruption in the aftermath of the 2018 general election, which led to a historic change of government on the back of public anger over rising living costs and allegations of rampant corruption.