GLC BOSS NOT HADI’S PAL? BUT THEY SCOOTED OFF TO THAILAND TOGETHER! SOCIAL MEDIA THUNDERS WITH TALK OF RM90 MIL SCANDAL – EVEN AS RAMELI SET TO GIVE HIS STATEMENT TO MACC TODAY

INVESTIGATORS have summoned Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) chairman Rameli Musa to record his statement in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s probe into the RM90 million allegedly given to PAS by Umno.

A source said Rameli must present himself at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at 10am today.

The source said MACC has also called in two others for questioning this morning – a Selangor PAS exco and a staff member at the Islamist party’s headquarters.

The Malaysian Insight yesterday reported that Rameli is being investigated as his name matches the account that paid RM1.42 million in legal costs to Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown in a settlement with PAS.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had filed a defamation suit against Rewcastle-Brown and the whistle-blower site over a 2016 article alleging that the party received RM90 million said to be 1Malaysia Development Bhd funds.

Rewcastle-Brown last week confirmed that Hadi paid her legal costs as part of an out-of-court settlement.

An MACC source said Rameli is being investigated under money laundering laws as the funds were moved from several accounts linked to him before being transferred to Rewcastle-Brown.

Apart from Rameli, several top PAS leaders, businessmen and a former menteri besar are also under investigation, said the source.

On Friday, PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli named Rameli as the account holder of a cheque for RM1.42 million issued to Rewcastle-Brown’s lawyer.

Rameli, who was appointed as KTMB chairman last month, formerly held the positions of Ingress Corp Bhd vice-chairman and Balfour Beatty Rail chairman.

He was also on the Kelantan Economic Development Corporation board when the late PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was menteri besar.

Political observer Mohd Sayuti Omar has said Hadi and Rameli were seen together during a trip to Bangkok, Thailand, in 2017.

So far, MACC has taken statements from five senior PAS men and two former party leaders.

Last week, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin and exco Mohamed Nasir Che Daud were summoned over the scandal.

PAS central committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz was the first to be grilled on February 8, followed by secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan.

Former deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and current vice-president Husam Musa have also had their statements recorded.

Takiyuddin on February 11 confirmed that the voice in an audio clip claiming that PAS had sought RM2 million from Umno with the knowledge of the Islamist party’s leaders was that of Nik Abduh.

Nik Abduh said the money was for use in the 2016 Sarawak elections, with the aim of bringing down DAP.

It was reported that he mentioned several names in the recording, including Hadi, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, information chief Nasrudin Hassan and Hadi’s son-in-law, Zaharuddin Muhammad.

MACC launched its probe after it was forwarded a police report lodged following Hadi’s move to withdraw the suit.

Last week, Sarawak Report published an article alleging that PAS used funds from Umno to finance its candidates in the 14th general election last May.

The portal claimed that another RM1 million was deposited into PAS’ account by the Barisan Nasional lynchpin.