PAS: We’re preparing witnesses for Sarawak Report suit
PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan says party has preparations to make but stands by its decision to take legal action against whistleblower site.
(FMT) – After more than three months of silence on the issue, PAS says it has prepared as many as 10 witnesses in the United Kingdom in its case against whistleblower site Sarawak Report.
According to the party’s secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, it is also preparing to gather witnesses in Malaysia to give their statements in court.
“For now, we are listing the witnesses comprising Malaysian and UK citizens to help give their statements.
“In court, these witnesses are sometimes called to give their statements in the written form, affidavit and other ways,” he told Malay daily Sinar Harian.
On Aug 6 last year, Sarawak Report claimed that RM90 million was “reckoned” to have entered the accounts of top PAS leaders. It said this was one of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s attempts to “woo” the PAS leadership into supporting Barisan Nasional and Umno.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man hit out at the report, saying that the party would take legal action against the portal.
On Dec 16, Takiyuddin said PAS’ lawyers in the UK had sent a letter of demand to Sarawak Report on Dec 13.
He said the letter contained three demands: that Sarawak Report retract the article, issue an apology according to terms agreed by the party, and give an undertaking not to publish false accusations in future.
The seven-day ultimatum expired on Dec 20, but as of Apr 8 this year, Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown said PAS lawyers in the UK had yet to file any suit against her or the news portal.
Speaking to Sinar Harian, Takiyuddin said the party had a six-year statute of limitations to file a suit on the issue.
“I ask that those urging PAS to take legal action not to worry because we stand by our decision to do so. The timing of when the suit is filed is up to the lawyer.
“In mid-December last year, we already said we wanted to sue the relevant parties.
“But when it will be done is not clear yet as there are many preparations to be made, such as documentation, witnesses and so on, because we have to prove our case to the court,” he was quoted as saying.
