A DAP leader has challenged Khairy Jamaluddin to clarify his position on Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s 47 charges in the Yayasan Akalbudi case, which were discontinued.
DAP central committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali questioned whether Khairy applied the same principles of accountability to political allies, following the former Umno Youth chief’s remarks that wrongdoing should not be defended, even when it involved leaders of his own party.
Sheikh Umar praised Khairy for saying that wrongdoing must not be tolerated but asked whether he had taken the same position on the charges previously faced by Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister.
Questions over political consistency
In a Facebook post, Sheikh Umar said Khairy’s past defence of former prime minister Najib Razak over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal raised questions about his consistency.
He said Khairy became more vocal in criticising Najib only after Barisan Nasional lost power in 2018.
“Now, it would be good for KJ to answer my question. What is his position on the case involving Zahid?” Sheikh Umar said.
He added that Khairy should clarify his position to avoid being perceived as someone whose principles changed according to personal or political interests.
Khairy’s remarks on accountability
On Tuesday, Khairy told the International Young Future Leaders Summit that wrongdoing must never be defended, even when it involved leaders of his party, Umno.
The former minister said political loyalty should not take precedence over integrity, stressing that allegations of wrongdoing and mismanagement must be addressed.
He was responding to a student who raised concerns about corruption, public donations and support for Najib.
Status of Zahid’s case
Zahid had faced 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering linked to Yayasan Akalbudi, and was ordered to enter his defence.
In September 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted him a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA), pending further investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
In January, the Attorney-General’s Chambers said the case had been classified as requiring no further action (NFA).
