I never interfered in Zahid's cases, says Anwar

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today maintained that there has been zero interference on his part in the court cases of his deputy, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. 

He said he had never asked for the cases to be withdrawn or the evidence for Zahid's prosecution reduced. 

"I have not intervened in the cases still pending in court," he said, responding to a question by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) in the Dewan Rakyat.

"You can ask the chief justice and attorney-general if I have ever interfered." 

Fadli had asked how serious the government was in dealing with governance issues, especially in relation to the littoral combat ships (LCS) project. 

He said the government had been seen as overly focused on matters involving the opposition. 

Anwar said the investigation into the LCS project must continue as the previous action appeared to be insufficient. 

He also said that there was no question of the prosecution of political enemies if enough evidence was brought against them. 

"Don't judge me as cruel and interfering," he said. 

"Are you confident of your proof that I have interfered in the charges against anyone?"

Anwar previously denied claims of selective prosecution against his enemies following the corruption charges brought against Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin. 

Muhyiddin, who was prime minister for 17 months between 2020 and 2021, has been slapped with a total of seven charges related to the JanaWibawa initiative, a post-Covid-19 programme to help Bumiputera contractors.