Malaysia closes deputy PM’s graft case ahead of key party meet

[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia’s Attorney General’s Chambers said it would take no further action against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in relation to his graft case, citing insufficient evidence to prosecute him. 

“This decision brings the case to an end, in line with the powers and discretion of the Attorney General in line with the Federal Constitution and related laws,” the AGC said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 8).

Zahid leads the United Malays National Organisation, a key party in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government. The deputy premier this week told the media that the party would remain with the government until the next general election, resisting some internal pressure to part ways with Anwar’s coalition.

The deputy prime minister in 2023 was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in his money laundering, criminal breach of trust and corruption trial related to his family-run foundation. This was to leave room for the prosecution to lay the same 47 charges in the future against Zahid. Anwar has in the past denied interfering in Zahid’s case.

Umno is set to kick off its four-day annual general assembly on Jan 14, where party delegates may raise the topic of leaving the ruling coalition. BLOOMBERG