PAS wants Hadi's son-in-law to explain 'dedak cartel' remarks

PAS wants Zaharudin Muhammad, the son-in-law of party president Abdul Hadi Awang, to explain his recent posts on social media attacking a group dubbed the "dedak cartel".

"If he made those remarks, we will get further explanation – what information he has and what the intention (behind those posts) was," PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan told reporters in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Zaharudin is linked to the infamous recording featuring PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Aziz talking about receiving money from Umno, being accused of leaking the audio clip early last year.

He denied this, and began to go on the offensive against a group whom he referred to as the "dedak cartel." 'Dedak', or animal feed, is a Bahasa Malaysia term for bribes made famous by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In Zaharudin's case, the cartel refers to those who received funds from, or who are linked to Umno.

The audio clip in question was widely circulated early last year, and ostensibly depicts a person talking about Umno's funding of PAS.

In the recording, an individual can be heard admitting that PAS leaders, including himself, late spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, and even party president Abdul Hadi Awang (photo) had received funds from Umno.

The person also says that PAS received RM2 million from Umno, with the knowledge of its top leaders, to defeat DAP in the 2016 Sarawak state election.

Nik Abduh had initially denied being the person speaking in the audio recording, but came clean in February this year, claiming that Hadi had given him permission for the denial.

Zaharudin said the recording was being used to justify the act of taking Umno funds as sanctioned by top party leaders.

"It actually was not, and I will show proof that the act of taking dedak was not condoned by top leaders," he had said. - Mkini