Malaysia Drops Corruption Case Against Deputy Prime Minister

Facts

• Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has had 47 charges dropped concerning various fraud allegations about his work at the Yayasan Akalbudi charity.¹
• The news comes after the Kuala Lumpur High Court accepted a request by the prosecution for a discharge not amounting to acquittal following the Attorney General's Chambers choosing not to pursue the case further.²
• Zahid, whose party — the United Malays National Organisation — helps form a unity government alongside Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, stated his relief that the "politically motivated accusations against me have ended."³
• Charges included criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering. Zahid was among other officials charged with corruption in 2018, while Ibrahim had promised to tackle the issue within Malaysian politics upon taking office in November 2022.⁴
• The trial began in November 2019, with 99 prosecution witnesses completing testimony witnesses.¹
• Zahid previously served in the government of former prime minister Nabij Razak, who is currently serving a 12-year sentence for corruption himself. In response to the news, governmental reform group Berish described the discharge as placing promises of anti-corruption by the state as "under serious doubt."⁵

Sources: ¹Al Jazeera, ²Reuters, ³Associated Press, ⁴DW, and ⁵Benar News.

Narratives

• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Malaysia Now. The decision to drop Zahid's charges is a travesty for democracy. The recent accusations of corruption at a charity aimed at eradicating poverty and increasing welfare are shocking — and they demonstrate a lack of justice in the country. Citizens must protest this clear failure and force the country to deal with its overspilling corruption once and for all.
• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by NST Online. Malaysia and its anti-corruption services play a loyal and pivotal role in public safety and the future of Malaysia. The state will continue to make sure that every investigation is treated with respect, and that a legitimate outcome according to the country's laws will be provided objectively.