Uphill Task For Pm To Convince Voters Of His Commitment To Reforms Hanipa

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will face an uphill task in convincing voters of his commitment to pursue reforms after the appointment of new Sabah governor Musa Aman, said a former deputy minister.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Mohamed Hanipa Maidin warned that the Madani administration could also risk further external repercussions from other recent executive and judicial decisions.
“Anwar will face an uphill task to convince the voters that he is serious about bringing genuine reforms.
“Worse, he may also face a herculean task to convince investors to invest in Malaysia unless he presumes they don't care about whatever he has done and will do or whatever policy he has introduced and seeks to introduce in future,” said the former Sepang MP.
In November 2018, Musa was slapped with 30 corruption charges involving US$50.1 million and 16 money laundering charges involving more than US$37.8 million and S$2.5 million.
However, the charges were dropped in June 2020, prompting Anwar to lament at the time that this was a case of double standards in the justice system.
Anwar Ibrahim and Musa AmanIn dropping the case, prosecutors cited the testimony of former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, who defended not charging the former Sabah chief minister with corruption as the money involved was deemed political funding.
Other controversial decisions
Other than Musa’s appointment, Hanipa also highlighted Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s appointment as deputy prime minister, while he was still facing 47 corruption charges.
DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi“Reformasi but Zahid was appointed as deputy prime minister.
“Reformasi but Najib and Irwan were given DNAA (discharge not amounting to an acquittal),” he said, referring to a case involving former premier Najib Abdul Razak and former treasury secretary-general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court on Nov 27 allowed their defence teams' bid to grant the duo a DNAA over six criminal breach of trust (CBT) charges involving RM6.6 billion.
Regressive move
Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abd AzizEarlier today, Muda acting president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz lamented that the government’s support for Musa’s appointment, through his nomination by Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, was a regressive move.
Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil however reiterated that the Sabah constitution states that the appointment of a governor is the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion, after consultation with the chief minister. - Mkini

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