THE National Patriots Association (Patriot) has joined the chorus demanding a probe into the RM90 million allegedly paid by Umno to PAS, saying Malaysians want the truth revealed.
Patriot president Brig-Gen (R) Mohamed Arshad Raji said despite the out-of-court settlement between PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown over an article on the alleged payment, the matter is “beyond mere accusations”.
“Even though the case will not be adjudicated, the allegations by Rewcastle-Brown regarding the RM90 million paid to PAS leaders remain,” he said in a statement today.
“This case is beyond mere accusations by both Rewcastle-Brown and Hadi.
“It includes a purported audio recording of Nik Abduh talking about receiving RM2 million from Umno, produced as evidence by Rewcastle-Brown, and was not contested by Hadi,” he said, referring to PAS central committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.
Amanah Youth deputy chief Faiz Fadzil and veteran newsman A. Kadir Jasin are among those who have called on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigated the alleged RM90 million transfer.
MACC said it has not received a report on the matter, and can only launch a probe after one has been lodged.
On the Sarawak Report article’s claim about PAS leaders’ extravagant spending, including the purchase of expensive cars and houses, Arshad said it is in contrast to the said leaders positioning themselves as pious and righteous, including “promising party members a path to Heaven for their support”.
He said Malaysians, including members of the Islamist party who had donated towards Hadi’s court case, are anxious to know the truth as the RM90 million is allegedly 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds.
If the truth is not revealed, he said, the people will question the integrity of the justice system and wonder if corruption is simply a way of life in this day and age.
“Patriot calls on those with knowledge about the case to lodge reports with the authorities. Even if there is no report lodged, police and MACC should start investigations on their own.”
Hadi had initiated legal action in the UK over the article titled “As Najib denies all over 1MDB, let’s not forget his many other criminal connections”, which suggested that millions were given to PAS in exchange for the party’s support for Barisan Nasional and former prime minister Najib Razak.
The settlement with Rewcastle-Brown and the whistle-blower site has raised many questions, among them, the reasons for Hadi pulling back the suit, and how PAS supporters, who had given RM2.1 million for the case to proceed, felt about his move.
Najib has denied that he or Umno had paid PAS RM90 million to secure its support, saying there is no proof that money had changed hands.
“Keep in mind that the Pakatan Harapan government has made very thorough investigations into my accounts and Umno’s in the nine months since the 14th general election,” he said on Facebook.
Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has backed PAS’ decision to settle the suit, saying the party had the right strategy.
“They want to focus on their business and they want to move forward.
“Otherwise, they are being dragged and entangled into an old issue that is not even relevant to their direction now.”
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
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