Zaid questions Umno’s interest in Hadi’s suit against Clare
FMT Reporters
PETALING JAYA: Zaid Ibrahim has criticised Umno and its leaders for trying to divert attention from the real issue behind the suit by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.
Referring to the legal tussle currently taking place in the United Kingdom, the former minister said one wouldn’t know it was about Sarawak Report’s story that at least 10 PAS officials from its ulama wing had received about RM90 million from funds allegedly sourced from 1MDB.
“If you don’t already know this, you would think the whole case is Clare Rewcastle-Brown and Ambiga versus Rahman Dahlan and Umno bloggers, judging by the news on the internet.
“The attacks on Ambiga and Clare are diversionary tactics because PAS is losing support rapidly, and this is not what Umno had bargained for in their plans to work together in the coming election,” Zaid said in a statement.
He was referring to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s criticism of former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan.
On Sunday, media reports said Clare, in her defence statement to the suit filed in London by Hadi, had claimed that she and Ambiga spoke about Prime Minister Najib Razak, 1MDB and PAS in July 2016.
“Ambiga had told the defendant that her sources, whom she said were reliable, had estimated the amount that had been paid was around RM90 million,” Clare stated in her affidavit dated Oct 11.
Clare’s defence was made in response to Hadi’s defamation suit against her filed in April this year. He claimed he had been defamed in a Sarawak Report article published on Aug 6, 2016.
“Why are Umno and its leaders pressing Ambiga to disclose the source? Ambiga is not the only person who has been told about the wealth of PAS leaders by friendly sources.
“Also, only Hadi is suing Clare although the sting of her statement about RM90 million ‘gift’ from Najib was directed generally at top party leaders,” Zaid said.
He added that the report by Rewcastle-Brown was about the wealth and ostentatious lifestyles of PAS leaders.
“Friends have shown me photographs of Nasharuddin Mat Isa’s house and cars, and how he now travels first class.
“It is not anything that Malaysians don’t already know about. Bringing the claim against Rewcastle-Brown in London will only result in those stories circulating at a much more frantic pace and deeper into the rural parts of Malaysia, Zaid said.
“People from all corners of Kelantan and Terengganu already know about the ‘transformation’ of PAS leaders.”
PAS different under Nik Aziz
Zaid also recalled how PAS leaders had little wealth and lived simple lives when the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat led the party as its spiritual leader as well as Kelantan menteri besar for more than 20 years.
“Those days differ markedly from now, when PAS leaders have expensive houses, fancy cars with fancy number plates and multiple wives.
“The question everyone is asking is where did these people get the money for such quick transformation of their lives?”
Zaid took particular aim at PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan who lives in Kota Bharu.
“I don’t remember him having a huge legal practice or any successful businesses to warrant his current lifestyle.
“But he is wealthy now, how else can he afford the number plate ‘TAK11’ as disclosed by Clare in her court documents?”
Zaid also took a dig at Najib’s alleged “gift” to the PAS leaders, and how it has drastically changed the Islamist party’s reputation.
“If there is one good thing Najib has done for the country, it is to allow money to taint and tarnish PAS for good.
“It’s the death knell for any political party to sell its principles for cash.”
* Juga berkait: Bilakah Nasharuddin Mat.Isa nak mula saman...
FMT Reporters
Referring to the legal tussle currently taking place in the United Kingdom, the former minister said one wouldn’t know it was about Sarawak Report’s story that at least 10 PAS officials from its ulama wing had received about RM90 million from funds allegedly sourced from 1MDB.
“If you don’t already know this, you would think the whole case is Clare Rewcastle-Brown and Ambiga versus Rahman Dahlan and Umno bloggers, judging by the news on the internet.
“The attacks on Ambiga and Clare are diversionary tactics because PAS is losing support rapidly, and this is not what Umno had bargained for in their plans to work together in the coming election,” Zaid said in a statement.
He was referring to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan’s criticism of former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan.
On Sunday, media reports said Clare, in her defence statement to the suit filed in London by Hadi, had claimed that she and Ambiga spoke about Prime Minister Najib Razak, 1MDB and PAS in July 2016.
“Ambiga had told the defendant that her sources, whom she said were reliable, had estimated the amount that had been paid was around RM90 million,” Clare stated in her affidavit dated Oct 11.
Clare’s defence was made in response to Hadi’s defamation suit against her filed in April this year. He claimed he had been defamed in a Sarawak Report article published on Aug 6, 2016.
“Why are Umno and its leaders pressing Ambiga to disclose the source? Ambiga is not the only person who has been told about the wealth of PAS leaders by friendly sources.
“Also, only Hadi is suing Clare although the sting of her statement about RM90 million ‘gift’ from Najib was directed generally at top party leaders,” Zaid said.
He added that the report by Rewcastle-Brown was about the wealth and ostentatious lifestyles of PAS leaders.
“Friends have shown me photographs of Nasharuddin Mat Isa’s house and cars, and how he now travels first class.
“It is not anything that Malaysians don’t already know about. Bringing the claim against Rewcastle-Brown in London will only result in those stories circulating at a much more frantic pace and deeper into the rural parts of Malaysia, Zaid said.
“People from all corners of Kelantan and Terengganu already know about the ‘transformation’ of PAS leaders.”
PAS different under Nik Aziz
Zaid also recalled how PAS leaders had little wealth and lived simple lives when the late Nik Aziz Nik Mat led the party as its spiritual leader as well as Kelantan menteri besar for more than 20 years.
“Those days differ markedly from now, when PAS leaders have expensive houses, fancy cars with fancy number plates and multiple wives.
“The question everyone is asking is where did these people get the money for such quick transformation of their lives?”
Zaid took particular aim at PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan who lives in Kota Bharu.
“I don’t remember him having a huge legal practice or any successful businesses to warrant his current lifestyle.
“But he is wealthy now, how else can he afford the number plate ‘TAK11’ as disclosed by Clare in her court documents?”
Zaid also took a dig at Najib’s alleged “gift” to the PAS leaders, and how it has drastically changed the Islamist party’s reputation.
“If there is one good thing Najib has done for the country, it is to allow money to taint and tarnish PAS for good.
“It’s the death knell for any political party to sell its principles for cash.”
* Juga berkait: Bilakah Nasharuddin Mat.Isa nak mula saman...
Pas mesti melakukan siasatan dalaman untuk pemimpin yang dituduh
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