Snap Insight: Ahmad Zahid’s discharge over corruption charges is politically awkward for Malaysia PM Anwar

MALAYSIANS JADED BY MESSY POLITICS

The development on Monday is sure to invite closer scrutiny on other politically sensitive corruption trials by ordinary Malaysians already jaded about the country’s messy politics.

The ongoing trials include cases against other senior UMNO leaders and the wife of former prime minister and now-jailed Najib Razak, Rosmah Mansor, together with several of Mr Anwar’s political opponents led by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin. 

Mr Anwar has made it no secret in his private sessions with close aides that he is grateful to Mr Ahmad Zahid for throwing UMNO’s support behind the PH coalition that helped him secure the premiership, but his associates insist that there was no interference.

“It is fair to say that the optics from all of this is not good for Anwar and the government. We need to ride this out,” said a senior businessman, who has been a part of the premier’s inner circle for the past three decades.

This week’s political twist also carries major ramifications for UMNO, which was booted out of power in the 2018 general election after more than six decades of ruling Malaysia. The spectacular defeat came on the back of widespread public anger over the fiasco at state-owned 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and corruption allegations against Najib and Mr Ahmad Zahid.

Najib surrendered the UMNO presidency to Mr Ahmad Zahid and was sentenced to 12 years in jail after his conviction on corruption charges linked to the 1MDB affair just over a year ago.

Since then, Mr Ahmad Zahid has consolidated power over UMNO by sacking rivals within the party, contesting that his corruption charges were politically motivated by Mr Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who temporarily served as prime minister for the second time after UMNO was kicked out of power.