Asyraf: Illogical for Umno to fund its own defeat, even I lost to PAS

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki dismissed claims that his party channelled RM90 million to PAS prior to the 2018 general election, stating that it was illogical for Umno to fund its own defeat.

"Logically speaking, Umno can't possibly give RM90 million to PAS so that it can defeat Umno.

"Even I lost to PAS (in the general election)," he told a press conference in Semenyih today.

Asyraf lost to PAS in the Pasir Putih parliamentary seat by a 1,360-vote majority in the 2018 general election.

He accused Pakatan Harapan of raising irrelevant issues as it did not have solid issues against the opposition.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had sued Sarawak Report for claiming that Umno channelled RM90 million to the Islamist party but withdrew the case last week on grounds that it was too costly.

Several MACC reports were subsequently lodged over the matter and it is now a subject of investigation.

After the general election last year, Umno and PAS had cooperated closely. With PAS' help, BN scored a convincing win in the Cameron Highlands by-election on Jan 26.

Umno will be contesting in the Semenyih by-election on March 2 and PAS is also expected to assist.

Asyraf said the Semenyih by-election will be a referendum on whether Harapan had failed to fulfil its promises.

It noted that Harapan had promised the abolition of tolls and the constituents in Semenyih have had to pay the toll in their daily drive for work in the Klang Valley.

On a separate matter, Asyraf criticised claims of fake academic qualifications among Harapan leaders, stating that it was a case of self-embarrassment. - Mkini