‘Reformasi’ is dead, says Wan Saiful after Zahid’s DNAA

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Former Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan said “Reformasi” is no longer the government’s agenda or priority after Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).

Sinar Harian reported the Tasek Gelugor MP as claiming last night that this followed the dropping of other charges involving politicians after the Pakatan Harapan (PH) became the government.

“I think this is what the government wants now, when individuals whose integrity and credibility were previously questioned are finally freed from all charges by using existing powers.

“This means that the ‘reformasi’ touted by the PH government and Barisan Nasional (BN) is long dead,” he was quoted as saying by the Malay national daily.

Wan Saiful called for the separation of powers between the attorney general and the public prosecutor to be implemented immediately to ensure that everyone is equal before the law.

He added that Perikatan Nasional (PN) will take over the reforms if the PH-BN coalition fails to do so.

“The long sought for separation of power seems to have been forgotten by the government even though we started fighting for this issue since 2010.

“If PH-BN cannot do it, PN can because we are more consistent when it comes to reforms than the current government,” he said.

On September 4, Zahid, who is the deputy prime minister and BN chairman, was granted a DNAA for all 47 of his corruption, criminal breach of trust (CBT), and money laundering charges involving his foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi. A DNAA means that an accused person can be charged again with the same charges.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim denied in Parliament that he had a hand in the decision.

He said it fell within the purview of the attorney general and questioned those who hurled allegations against him including the Opposition bloc.