PAS launches donation drive to help MP settle RM825,000 defamation bill

(FMT) : PAS has turned to its members for donations to help the party’s Kepala Batas MP, Siti Mastura Muhammad, pay RM825,000 in damages and costs after losing a defamation suit filed by three DAP leaders.

In an internal letter sighted by FMT, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the party’s top brass has decided that everyone must pitch in to support Siti Mastura.

Takiyuddin said Siti Mastura was only fulfilling her responsibility as a PAS leader when she made the remarks during the Kemaman by-election campaign and did not do it because of personal malice.

“The party’s central committee has carefully discussed this matter and decided that PAS, at all levels, must share the responsibility of settling this claim,” he wrote in the letter.

“Therefore, on behalf of the central committee, I am directing members and leaders at all levels (from central to branches), to initiate a ‘jihad donation drive’.”

According to the letter, central committee members and PAS branches must each contribute at least RM500, while state chapters as well as wings at federal, state, and division levels are required to raise a minimum of RM20,000 each.

Takiyuddin warned that Siti Mastura could face bankruptcy proceedings if she did not pay the judgment sum, resulting in her disqualification as an MP and a possible by-election in Kepala Batas.

On Dec 4, Siti Mastura lost a defamation case brought by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, his son, Guan Eng, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok over her claims linking them to the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.

The George Town High Court ordered her to pay RM300,000 to Kit Siang, RM250,000 to Guan Eng and RM200,000 to Kok.

A 5% annual interest will apply if the amounts are not paid on time.

Siti Mastura was also ordered to pay costs of RM25,000 to each of the trio.

FMT has reached out to Takiyuddin for comment, while a PAS source confirmed the legitimacy of the donation drive.

Source : Freemalaysiatoday