MEDIA reports that Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s affidavit to back former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s bid to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest was made in the former’s capacity as Umno president, said Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
In his affidavit, Zahid, inter alia, claimed that on January 30, during a meeting in his house at Country Heights, International Trade and Investment Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz informed him of the addendum order dated January 29.
This issue arises: should the Madani government be free from any blame just because Zahid’s affidavit was made in his capacity as Umno president?
To address this issue, we should understand in what capacity Zahid was appointed as deputy prime minister in the present Madani government. In his personal capacity or in his capacity as Umno president?
The answer should be loud and clear. Yes, he was appointed to the post of deputy prime minister in his capacity as Umno president. Period. Ergo, when he sits and deliberates in a cabinet, he, sensu stricto, represents Umno’s interest. In other words, nobody should ever expect him to speak in the cabinet in his personal capacity.
Hence, Umno’s interest, which he duly represents, has become part of the government’s decision because Zahid sits therein as deputy prime minister in the government.
Be that as it may, I am of the view that the government, with the greatest respect, cannot run away from its liability simply because Zahid, being the deputy prime minister and Umno president, decided to support Najib’s application by affirming an affidavit.
With due respect, Zahid’s action in affirming such a mind boggling affidavit has unnecessarily placed the Madani government in a real quandary and drawn it into a political quagmire.
The only narrow route for the government to escape liability on this issue would be if Zahid decided to resign first as deputy prime minister and, in turn, affirmed his affidavit in support of Najib’s application.
Since Zahid has failed to do so, I am afraid the government cannot disown Zahid’s fatal mistake by advocating that Zahid merely affirmed the affidavit in his capacity as Umno president. – April 20, 2024
Mohamed Hanipa Maidin is a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (legal affairs). He has a master’s degree in international law.