PMO says Muhyiddin not meeting with political leaders today, leaves Zahid’s excuse to postpone graft trial in doubt

KUALA LUMPUR (March 2): The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has come out to say that Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (pictured) is not scheduled to meet any political leaders today.

In a two-paragraph statement today, the PMO said Muhyiddin is only meeting the Chief Secretary to the Government Datuk Seri Mohd Zuki Ali and department heads of government agencies to coordinate the smooth running of the government.

Earlier this morning, the lawyers of former deputy prime minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had sought a postponement to his graft and money laundering trial as they said Zahid was scheduled to attend a meeting with Muhyiddin to discuss the new Cabinet line-up.

Following that, trial High Court judge Justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah had allowed the adjournment to tomorrow.

Zahid had also issued a statement to reiterate that his case will continue as usual, adding that he does not want it to be dismissed.

In the statement, Zahid said: "My case will continue as usual (tomorrow). It would not be dropped like other cases prior to this. Insya'allah (God-willing), I would let the court to clear me of this case without seeking for the case to be dropped."

"I want the court to make a decision despite (I believe) this case being a political and selective prosecution," he added.

Muhyiddin's coalition comprises Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, where he is president, along with Umno, PAS, MCA, MIC and support from Gabungan Parti Sarawak.

The 67-year-old Zahid is facing trial for 47 charges that includes 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering involving millions of ringgit of funds belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

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