Zahid: My good deeds are seen as unlawful

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has come to terms with the fact that his good deeds through the Akal Budi Foundation has been deemed as corruption and money laundering by the authorities.

“I was only doing charity work in building a tahfiz school for students from all over the country who have memorised 30 chapters of the Quran so that they can sit for the SPM examination; get the al-Hafiz certificate and diploma in Quranic studies, which will enable them to further their studies at universities in the country and abroad,” he said in a statement that was posted on Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam’s Facebook page.

In the statement, he claimed he was being investigated over allegations of graft and Amla (Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001) relating to donations “and my own money”.

“All these funds were managed by a law firm as a trust fund in an account. I accept that my good deeds are seen as corruption,” he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid is scheduled to be questioned by the MACC today over the alleged misappropriation of funds in relation to the Akal Budi Foundation. He had been questioned twice by the MACC earlier.

The former deputy prime minister is the chairman of the foundation, which was for Islamic charity with donations from him and friends.