PUTRAJAYA: All factors were taken into account in Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s appointment as Deputy Prime Minister, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The Prime Minister said that while Ahmad Zahid has been charged in court, but has not been convicted.

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He therefore called all parties to respect the judicial process.

"It is their right to dispute (the appointment of Ahmad Zahid) but who is disputing and for what reason? He (Ahmad Zahid) has not been convicted.

"He (Ahmad Zahid) happens to be the Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman and in this unity government, I have taken all those factors into account," said Anwar during a press conference after chairing the first Cabinet meeting.

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Anwar also said he has been consistently voicing corruption-related issues and that people who fight against corruption must be clean from the act.

He said that he had challenged others during the last election campaign to declare their assets.

"I am willing to declare my property including inside and outside the country, and I also asked the Perikatan Nasional chairman to declare assets in Malaysia and Australia and several other countries, but there was no answer," he said.