DAP's 'foreign funding' more dangerous than RM90m - PAS

The foreign funding that the DAP is allegedly receiving is a bigger issue than PAS receiving Umno money, said PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Asked to comment on Bachok MP Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz's admission that it was indeed his voice in an audio clip admitting to having taken money from Umno, Tuan Ibrahim stressed that it was "not a big issue".

"We think the bigger issue is not this; to me, it is already academic," he told a press conference after attending a religious forum at the Sultan Muhammad IV mosque in Kota Bharu, last night.

The issue surrounding the recording resurfaced after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang settled out of court his defamation suit against Sarawak Report, over its article that claimed his party leaders had accepted RM90 million from former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak.

Nik Abduh, who is also PAS central committee member, had revealed that Hadi consented to his denial of an audio clip of him admitting that the party received funds from Umno.

Last year, Nik Abduh had dismissed the recording as "nonsense and slander", which he reiterated to the media after the MACC recorded his statement recently.

'Focus on DAP'

According to Tuan Ibrahim, the focus should instead be on DAP allegedly receiving foreign funding.

"The foreign funding issue should be highlighted by the media, because it is more dangerous to the country, as opposed to donations within the country.

"For instance, when there is an election, we in the party will publicise our account number and whoever wants to contribute, they can do so, and it's not an offence. In fact, there are also Chinese who contribute.

"However, if a foreign party gives fund, it's dangerous. For example, Israel, whom we do not have diplomatic ties with,' he said.

Therefore, Tuan Ibrahim, who is also Kubang Kerian MP, urged the MACC to initiate a probe against Pakatan Harapan component parties, for allegedly receiving foreign funding.

"I feel that the rakyat should be more worried about this (foreign funding) than the RM90 million fund (that PAS allegedly received from Umno)," he said.

PAS Youth has said it would lodge police reports nationwide to pressure the authorities to investigate Harapan component party DAP for allegedly receiving foreign funding.

The Islamist party had cited a 2016 allegation made by the then Penang chief minister’s former special officer, Mohamed Razali Abd Rahman, that DAP was offered RM1.2 billion (US$300 million) in return for permission to set up an Israeli military base in Malaysia if the opposition managed to capture Putrajaya in the 13th general election in 2013.

Also cited was the statement by Washington-based International Republican Institute (IRI) president Daniel Twining that IRI had been working to “strengthen” opposition parties in Malaysia since 2002. - Mkini