Pas leaves Zahid out of cooperation plan with Umno due to his legal issues

PAS decided to exclude Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from its proposed renewal of cooperation with Umno due to his ongoing legal issues, despite being granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).

(NST) – Pas deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said despite the High Court discharging the Umno president without acquittal, this issue remained a key reason for the Islamic party’s decision to exclude the Zahid from their agenda to unite the ummah.

“Zahid still has these 47 cases; they haven’t disappeared, they are DNAA. It’s not that he has no case, but he still has these cases.

“The case remains in DNAA status. If there is evidence, he could be convicted. For us, this ‘element’ remains,” he said at a press conference after the 70th annual Pas muktamar at Kompleks Al-Makmur, Kerdau, today.

He was responding to comments made by Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki’s reaction to Pas’ suggestion of reestablishing cooperation with Umno, but excluding Zahid.

Tuan Ibrahim said legally, Zahid’s case could still be brought back to court, and said the 47 charges against him were not trivial.

“The prosecution has halted his charges, unlike in the cases of Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng.

“For us, our president said Zahid would not be involved. This is a question of integrity and the law.

“This is one of the factors (why PAS will not involve Zahid in the unity agenda),” he said.

At a press conference on Friday, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party remained open to collaborating with Umno.

The Marang member of Parliament also confirmed that there were efforts to revive the Muafakat Nasional between Pas and Umno.

He said Zahid was not involved in the formation of MN as he was on leave.