Don’t presume guilt when someone is investigated, says Asyraf

Anyone who is under investigation by the authorities should not be presumed to be guilty, as they have yet to be convicted by the courts, says an Umno leader.

The party’s secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the principle of the rule of law must always be respected and upheld.

“A person cannot be deemed guilty until they have been charged, tried and convicted by a court,” he told reporters after the Umno Supreme Court meeting last night.

“Any inference that those being probed by the authorities were guilty went against the principles of justice and the presumption of innocence.”

However, Asyraf said Umno would also never defend wrongdoers.

“Those involved must face justice through the legal process, including Umno members and leaders,” he added.

While he did not identify anyone in particular, his remarks follow the arrests of a former Tabung Haji chairman and a former Treasury secretary-general to assist in investigations into the findings of the royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on the pilgrims fund.

They have not been identified. However, two lawyers were quoted by the New Straits Times on Friday as protesting against remand orders taken against their clients, Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

Electoral pact for Melaka polls

Commenting on the impending Melaka state elections, Asyraf said the Supreme Council had agreed for the Umno state leadership to hold discussions and negotiations with political parties interested in electoral cooperation.

“Any negotiations with any party to establish cooperation in the coming election must be based on sincerity and trust, not threats or intimidation,” he said.

According to Asyraf, Umno had also agreed to invite the top leadership of PAS to attend the Umno general assembly, which will be held on Sept 9-12.

He said the invitation was extended as a gesture of respect and in reciprocation of the invitation to Umno leaders to attend PAS’s annual muktamar.

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