Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been accused of deliberately sowing confusion over PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement on cash handouts to voters during the last general election.
PAS Dewan Ulama chief Ahmad Yahaya said there is a clear distinction between charitable acts and corruption.
He added that PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has never compromised on this but Zahid is twisting the issue.
“What (Hadi) explained was clear. It had nothing to do with menghalalkan rasuah (legitimising the act of corruption in Islam) as claimed by Zahid.
“Unfortunately, Zahid deliberately twisted the statement (by Hadi) so that they (PAS political rivals) could bundle bribery and charity together.
“I am of the view that he (Zahid) can differentiate between corruption and charity. But unfortunately, he appears to be confused and is confusing others,” he added in a statement.
On Sunday, Zahid censured Hadi, who is the MP for Marang, over his claim that the cash handouts were charitable acts.
Branding the PAS president as a “hypocrite”, he said: "If he (Hadi) does it, then it’s charity, but if others do it, it’s corruption.”
Zahid, who is also Umno president, branded Hadi as a "political ulama" and urged the latter not to change Islamic rules as he pleases.
PAS Youth leader: Focus on Zahid’s charges
Yesterday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki described the cash handouts as potential vote-buying.
“It does not matter if they use terms like sedekah (charity). It is still corruption as defined under Section 10 of the Election Offences Act 1954.
“We have opened a few investigation papers after receiving complaints during and after the election, and we will investigate every case that was referred to us,“ he said.
Hadi’s controversial statement was made in response to Terengganu Umno filing a petition under the Election Offences Act 1954 to annul the 15th general election results for the PAS-held seats of Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Kemaman.
Terengganu Umno had accused PAS of buying votes through financial aid distribution in the form of i-Pension, i-Belia and i-Student initiatives, from the state government.
Meanwhile, Kelantan PAS Youth chief Mohamad Kamal Mohamed claimed the BN and Pakatan Harapan leadership were exploiting the issue to divert public attention from their own shortcomings.
On a sarcastic note, he advised BN and Harapan to resolve the deluge of corruption charges against Zahid first.
“At least give the economic affairs minister (Rafizi Ramli) space to school the Perikatan Nasional leadership after making grand challenges as an ‘economic observer’ (during PN’s reign) and dashing out 1,001 simple formulas.
“Or resolve the issue of whether hens want or don’t want to lay eggs,” he added in response to the shortage of eggs in the market. - Mkini
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