‘Will Anwar sack Zahid if he is found guilty of corruption?’

A Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leader has questioned whether Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would sack his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi immediately if the latter is found guilty on corruption charges by the High Court.

(NST) – Bersatu Shah Alam division deputy division chief Dr Afif Bahardin said Anwar recently said that cabinet ministers will be sacked immediately if they are found to be involved in corruption.

Anwar, he said, had maintained that it was not a political statement but his belief.

Dr Afif said the prime minister’s statement was inconsistent and contradicted his own conduct in appointing Zahid as the deputy prime minister.

“Zahid is facing 47 serious corruption charges at the Kuala Lumpur High Court. The nation was appalled at this appointment and the public anger was clear from the big margin with which Perikatan Nasional won the Padang Serai election,” he said in a statement.

He labeled Anwar’s claim that he will sack ministers tainted with corruption appears as merely an attempt to deflect public concern and outrage over Zahid’s appointment as DPM.

“In light of this, in the interest of transparency and good governance, we ask Anwar to answer these three questions; if Zahid is convicted by the KL High Court on the charges of corruption in the ongoing cases, will Anwar sack him immediately? Or will Anwar give the excuse that Zahid can stay pending appeals to the Court of Appeal and Federal Court?

“If any ministers are charged in court with corruption, will Anwar sack them immediately? If the answer is affirmative, then why is it that he appointed Zahid as DPM when he was already charged? If not, then Anwar’s claim that he will sack ministers with corruption cases is proven false,” said Dr Afif.

He said Anwar must be precise and clear on this as he has already breached good governance by appointing Zahid who is facing multiple corruption charges.

“Vague or deceptive answers will not satisfy the rakyat or the international investors who are crucial for our economic recovery.”