Source: Hadi initially unaware about RM1.4m payment to settle suit

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was initially unaware of the RM1.4 million payment made to settle his lawsuit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, according to a source.

The source close to corporate figure Rameli Musa said all affairs from the initial discussions onwards were handled by five influential individuals within PAS, using Rameli as an intermediary.

“After everything was done, only then Tok Guru (Hadi) knew, after meeting Rameli.

“He was shocked,” the source told Malaysiakini when met in Petaling Jaya recently.

The PAS central committee was also allegedly not informed about the settlement, so it came as no surprise they completely denied Sarawak Report’s revelation that a payment was made.

Three of the five influential PAS members are secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and PAS lawyer Wan Rohimi Wan Daud.

Ahmad Samsuri, better known as Dr Sam, was Hadi’s political secretary prior to his appointment as menteri besar after last year’s general election.

Malaysiakini is withholding the names of two others involved in the meeting, pending their responses to our request for comment.

Responding to Malaysiakini’s queries, Takiyuddin admitted he had met Rameli but said he only discussed the lawsuit in general terms with Rameli and was unaware of the settlement payment.

Wan Rohimi denied involvement, while Ahmad Samsuri’s press secretary Adram Musa told Malaysiakini that the menteri besar typically does not respond to "speculative" reports.

Hadi had on March 7 denied allegations that he or his party had made payments to Rewcastle-Brown.

This is in contrary to a Sarawak Report article published six days earlier confirming the payment.

The whistleblower site also disclosed the terms of the settlement and a copy of the cheque that was paid to a Kuala Lumpur law firm representing Rewcastle-Brown.

The source claimed to be revealing what transpired following disappointment towards PAS, which is seen to be distancing itself from Rameli after it became public knowledge that the payment was made by Rameli.

Rameli himself has maintained silence on the matter.

His wife Norlella Md Akram, who is a lawyer, had vented her disappointment with PAS on March 6. However, she later demanded that the media retracts reports on her comments on the basis that her comments are private and not meant for public consumption.

Five persons, five meetings

Malaysiakini understands that the group of five had met Rameli on five occasions. All of the meetings took place in Kota Damansara, including three at Rameli’s house.

Samsuri (left) and Rameli at his house in January.

The meetings are said to have taken place on Oct 15 and Dec 20 last year, as well as on Jan 13, Jan 18, and Feb 2 this year. The date of the final meeting was also a day after a settlement was reached between Hadi and Rewcastle-Brown.

However, not all of the five PAS representatives were present at all the meetings. Takiyuddin, for example, was only present in the first meeting.

Asked about the negotiations with Sarawak Report, the source said Rameli had discussed it with Rewcastle-Brown at the Marriott Hotel in London.

“PAS has only agreed to pay £150,000, but Clare demanded £460,000. After some back and forth talks, they finally arrived at this figure (£260,000, or RM1.4 million according to exchange rates at the time),” the source said.

The source added that Rameli has close ties with PAS and has donated a lot to the party’s cause.

In addition, the source said the RM1.4 million was a loan meant to be repaid within two days of paying Rewcastle-Brown.

“But to this day it is not known whether the repayment was made or not,” the source said.

Meanwhile, another source, who had met Rameli recently, said the KTMB chairperson is dismayed by what has transpired.

The source said Rameli was also unhappy with attacks by blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, whom the source said could find out about the settlement “fresh from the oven” only because he is close to one of the five PAS representatives.

Raja Petra had accused Rameli of “betting on all horses” to ensure he always comes ahead, due to Rameli’s close ties with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

The blogger claimed that Rameli had made the payment to humiliate Hadi and PAS for their consistent denials that the party received payments from Umno.

The case involving RM90 million in funding allegedly given to PAS by Umno has been investigated by the MACC and forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor for a decision.

Malaysiakini is attempting to contact Rameli himself regarding the allegations made by the sources. - Mkini