The dropping of all 37 charges against the 'King of Klang' Zakaria Mohd Deros has raised more questions than it has settled, Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang said today.

He decried the decision to drop the charges as "another grave blow to public confidence" in the independence, integrity, and professionalism of the state institutions.

"Were the authorities serious in charging Zakaria with 37 offences under the Companies Act 1965 in the first instance?" asked Lim in a statement.

"If so, how could these charges be so summarily and flippantly withdrawn?" added Lim, who noted that the Zakaria and the other six respondents were absent in court yesterday.

"If the original 37 charges against Zakaria were just a sandiwara (play acting) and never meant to be taken or to be pursued seriously, then the reputation of the impartiality, independence, professionalism and integrity of the state institutions responsible for upholding law and order have been seriously tarnished, and suitable punitive action should be taken against the offenders."

According to a New Straits Times report, the Klang assembyperson and six of his partners could have been jailed a maximum of five years jail and fined up RM30,000 for each of the charges.

Following a payment of a mere RM1,400 fine to the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM) which prosecuted them, however, they were let off the hook yesterday and the charges withdrawn, said the report.

"The numbers just don't add up," said the daily.

Zakaria, a former Klang local council member, earned notoriety last year when it was found he had built a palatial house in Klang without the approval of the local authorities and had defaulted on assessment payments for more than ten years.

He was fined RM24,000 by the Klang Municipal Council. Subsequent investigations by the Anti-Corruption Agency were closed in May for lack of evidence. The Star reported that he is still under investigations for one remaining case.

'Charges were against companies'

CCM, however, brought charges charges against Zakaria and his associates as directors of Harvest Court Industries Bhd and Titi Steel Sdn Bhd for failure under the Companies Act 1965 to, among other reasons:

- notify change of address
- submit profit-and-loss accounts and financial statements
- hold annual general meetings

In the surprise move yesterday, CCM's senior prosecutor Azmil Haron told Klang magistrate Fadzilatul Isma Ahmad Refngah that he had received instructions from the Deputy Public Prosecutor to drop the charges.

The New Straits Times reported this was done following the payment of the compound for the offences to CCM on July 31.

Besides Zakaria, the other directors were Darues Kadir, Ng Ai Cheng, Yet Kiong Siang, Ng Swee Kiat, Ng Sho Shee and Sukhinderjit Singh Muker

"It looks like they have agreed to our request and allowed them to pay the compound; therefore the charges are withdrawn," one of Zakaria's lawyers JR Samuel told reporters outside the court.

Another of Zakaria's lawyers, Mozni Sham Ahmad said the charges were not against the seven as individuals but against the companies.

"My client is a state assemblyman who upholds the law and has never breached it," Mozni was reported to have said.