Helping each other part of PAS’s culture, says spiritual leader

 

PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin said members are ‘not forced’ into giving money in Siti Mastura Muhammad’s case. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin has defended the party’s call for members to donate money to help Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad pay RM825,000 in damages after losing a defamation case filed by three DAP leaders.

Hashim said helping each other is part of PAS’s culture as an Islamic party.

“Yes, we should all come together to help her. For me, there is nothing wrong with wanting to help. It is not forced,” he told FMT.

Hashim said he had not received the letter himself but was aware of the issue.

A letter from PAS leaders asked members at all levels to contribute to the “jihad donation” to help Mastura pay the court-ordered damages.

It warned members that if Mastura fails to pay up, she could face bankruptcy proceedings, which would disqualify her as an MP and force her to give up her seat.

“PAS has discussed this matter thoroughly and decided that the party at all levels must also take responsibility for resolving the claim,” the letter read.

“It is because Mastura, who is alleged to have uttered defamatory words against DAP, did so in a justified situation while fulfilling her responsibilities towards the party and the struggle, namely during the Kemaman by-election campaign on Nov 4, 2023.”

On Dec 4, the High Court ruled against Mastura in a case brought by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, his son, Guan Eng, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

The court found her speech linking them to the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng to be defamatory.

The court ordered Mastura to pay RM300,000 to Kit Siang, RM250,000 to Guan Eng, and RM200,000 to Kok. She was also told to pay RM25,000 in legal costs to each of the three plaintiffs. - FMT