The heat is on Zahid
Hot on the heels of MACC charging the former PM and his wife with graft, sources say that former Deputy PM Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is now likely to be arrested. And the fate of the Umno president hangs in the balance.
PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi appears before the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission today and is expected to be arrested, and charged tomorrow.
The Umno president, who was summoned yet again by the antigraft authorities, had already spent a straight three days last week being questioned. Even then, there was talk that he might be arrested.
MACC’s probe into Dr Ahmad Zahid’s financial dealings comes after it had charged both the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
This will be Dr Ahmad Zahid’s fifth appearance with graft investigators probing the case of Yayasan Akal Budi and there is strong speculation that this time, he would be arrested to face court charges.
Officials from the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission are tightlipped, refusing to say a word about a possible arrest.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki said: “I am just confirming what has been leaked and gone viral,” he said of Dr Ahmad Zahid being summoned to the MACC office at 3pm today.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, the 65-year-old former deputy prime minister, said he had received the notice from MACC officers around 1.45pm at the Umno headquarters yesterday.
“Yes, I will be present at the MACC as asked of me,” he said when The Star contacted him.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, however, declined to comment when asked if he was prepared to face the possibilities, including arrest.
“Why don’t you just use the statement by Lokman Adam?” he said, referring to Umno supreme council member Datuk Lokman Noor Adam.
Lokman had issued a statement to party members – which further fuelled speculation – informing them that Dr Ahmad Zahid had been “issued with a notice to surrender himself to be arrested” and that the latter is expected to be charged tomorrow.
The president of Pemantau Malaysia Baru also called on Umno members to attend a #Solidariti4PresidenUmno rally to be held in front of the MACC headquarters at 9pm tonight and to do the same at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex in Jalan Duta tomorrow.
On July 3, Dr Ahmad Zahid was called for the first time by the MACC to answer questions on alleged misappropriation of Yayasan Akal Budi funds.
He was summoned again last week on Oct 10, 11 and 12 to face investigators over the same issue.
He is the chairman of the foundation, set up by his family to help eradicate poverty and provide Islamic education. MACC is investigating claims that RM800,000 belonging to the foundation was used to pay off credit card bills.