In an exclusive interview with FMT, Ahmad claimed that most of the charges against Umno leaders, including himself, were politically motivated, as it was done when Pakatan Harapan (PH) was in power.
Pointing out that everyone is innocent until proven guilty in court, Ahmad stressed that the “court cluster” leaders are entitled to contest GE15 just like any other candidates.
The “court cluster” refers to prominent Umno leaders such as former prime minister Najib Razak and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who are either on trial or have been convicted on charges such as criminal breach of trust (CBT), abuse of power and money laundering.
“We will wait patiently for all the (court case) decisions because they take time,” said Ahmad when met at Umno’s headquarters at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Center.
“For Zahid, what happened in Shah Alam could also happen in Kuala Lumpur. So let’s wait.”
In September, the former deputy prime minister was acquitted of 40 charges of receiving bribes from a company to extend its foreign visa system contract after the Shah Alam High Court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case against him.
However, Zahid still faces 47 charges of money laundering and CBT involving millions from Yayasan Akalbudi and for accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as the home minister. The case is being heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.
Ahmad was commenting on how Umno would handle the continued attacks on its “court cluster” leaders and claims that Zahid would be freed of his charges if Barisan Nasional (BN) wins GE15.
Ahmad said it was unfair to claim that only Umno leaders were involved in such cases.
He pointed out that Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was ordered to defend himself on four charges of abetting in CBT, misappropriation of assets, and money laundering yesterday.
Syed Saddiq has been charged with abetting the Bersatu youth wing’s former assistant treasurer, Rafiq Hakim, in the commission of CBT of RM1 million. As the then Bersatu Youth chief, Syed Saddiq was entrusted with control of its funds.
He is also charged with misusing RM120,000 from a bank account belonging to Armada Bumi Bersatu Enterprise for himself.
“Such court cases are widespread, so don’t blame Umno leaders (only),” said Ahmad, adding that several PH leaders had cases against them dropped when the coalition was in power.