Hadi stands by integrity of PAS leaders despite RM90mil claim

(FMT) – The integrity of PAS leaders remains intact despite claims that the party had received funds from Umno before the 2018 general election, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said today.

Hadi said PAS had cooperated with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in its investigations of the state governments of Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah, which are led by PAS.

“There are those who say we received RM90 million from Umno. That’s slanderous. The MACC has carried out their investigation, but there is no proof,” he said in a video posted on Facebook tonight.

Hadi said he had told the MACC to investigate the menteris besar and executive councillors in the three states and arrest those who were found guilty.

“We would sack such individuals.”

Hadi said that other political parties were aware of PAS’s election financing, which included collecting donations from its members.

“There are those who sell off their land to pay for the deposits of candidates. Many in PKR and those other parties know that PAS members spend a lot of money and that they also help settle debts.”

Hadi’s remarks came in the wake of a report filed against him by Penang assembly member Syerleena Rashid of DAP, alleging corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.

The report was made after DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng urged Hadi to explain a RM1.4 million settlement with Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown in a defamation suit he brought against her.

Lim said a video making the rounds had featured Rewcastle Brown confirming that PAS received RM90 million from Umno. The figure had also been cited in a defamation suit against her in 2017.

Rewcastle Brown subsequently disputed the claim and told FMT that she had only confirmed that there was evidence to prove that PAS was paid.